Eddi et al. [Phys. Rev Lett. 102, 240401 (2009)] presented experimental results demonstrating the unpredictable tunneling of a classical wave-particle association as may arise when a droplet walking across the surface of a vibrating fluid bath approaches a submerged barrier. We here present a theoretical model that captures the influence of bottom topography on this wave-particle association and so enables us to investigate its interaction with barriers. The coupled wave-droplet dynamics results in unpredictable tunneling events. As reported in the experiments by Eddi et al. and as is the case in quantum tunneling [Gamow, Nature (London) 122, 805 (1928)], the predicted tunneling probability decreases exponentially with increasing barrier width. In the parameter regimes examined, tunneling between two cavities suggests an underlying stationary ergodic process for the droplet's position.

An inverse cascade, energy transfer to progressively larger scales, is a salient feature of two-dimensional turbulence. If the cascade reaches the system scale, it creates a coherent flow expected to have the largest available scale and conform with the symmetries of the domain. In a doubly periodic rectangle, the mean flow with zero total momentum was therefore believed to be unidirectional, with two jets along the short side; while for an aspect ratio close to unity, a vortex dipole is expected. Using direct numerical simulations, we show that in fact neither is the box symmetry respected nor the largest scale realized: the flow is never purely unidirectional since the inverse cascade produces coherent vortices, whose number and relative motion are determined by the aspect ratio. This spontaneous symmetry breaking is closely related to the hierarchy of averaging times. Long-time averaging restores translational invariance due to vortex wandering along one direction, and gives jets whose profile, however, can neither be deduced from the largest-available-scale argument, nor from the often employed maximum-entropy principle or quasilinear approximation.

Shell models of turbulence have a finite-time blowup in the inviscid limit, i.e., the enstrophy diverges while the single-shell velocities stay finite. The signature of this blowup is represented by self-similar instantonic structures traveling coherently through the inertial range. These solutions might influence the energy transfer and the anomalous scaling properties empirically observed for the forced and viscous models. In this paper we present a study of the instantonic solutions for a set of four shell models of turbulence based on the exact decomposition of the Navier-Stokes equations in helical eigenstates. We find that depending on the helical structure of each model, instantons are chaotic or regular. Some instantonic solutions tend to recover mirror symmetry for scales small enough. Models that have anomalous scaling develop regular nonchaotic instantons. Conversely, models that have nonanomalous scaling in the stationary regime are those that have chaotic instantons. The direction of the energy carried by each single instanton tends to coincide with the direction of the energy cascade in the stationary regime. Finally, we find that whenever the small-scale stationary statistics is intermittent, the instanton is less steep than the dimensional Kolmogorov scaling, independently of whether or not it is chaotic. Our findings further support the idea that instantons might be crucial to describe some aspects of the multiscale anomalous statistics of shell models.

Although the roll-streak structure is ubiquitous in both observations and simulations of pretransitional wall-bounded shear flow, this structure is linearly stable if the idealization of laminar flow is made. Lacking an instability, the large transient growth of the roll-streak structure has been invoked to explain its appearance as resulting from chance occurrence in the background turbulence of perturbations configured to optimally excite it. However, there is an alternative interpretation for the role of free-stream turbulence in the genesis of the roll-streak structure, which is that the background turbulence interacts with the roll-streak structure to destabilize it. Statistical state dynamics (SSD) provides analysis methods for studying instabilities of this type that arise from interaction between the coherent and incoherent components of turbulence. SSD in the form of a closure at second order is used in this work to analyze the cooperative eigenmodes arising from interaction between the coherent streamwise invariant component and the incoherent background component of turbulence. In pretransitional Couette flow a manifold of stable modes with roll-streak form is found to exist in the presence of low-intensity background turbulence. The least stable mode of this manifold is destabilized at a critical value of a parameter controlling the background turbulence intensity and a finite-amplitude roll-streak structure arises from this instability through a bifurcation in this parameter. Although this bifurcation has analytical expression only in the infinite ensemble formulation of second order SSD, referred in this work as the S3T system, it is closely reflected in numerical simulations of both the dynamically similar quasilinear system, referred to as the restricted nonlinear (RNL) system, as well as in the full Navier-Stokes equations. This correspondence is verified using ensemble implementations of the RNL system and the Navier-Stokes equations. The S3T system also predicts a second bifurcation at a higher value of the turbulent excitation parameter that results in destabilization of the finite-amplitude roll-streak equilibria. This second bifurcation is shown to lead first to time dependence of the roll-streak structure in the S3T system and then to chaotic fluctuation corresponding to minimal channel turbulence. This transition scenario is also verified in simulations of the RNL system and of the Navier-Stokes equations. This bifurcation from a finite-amplitude roll-streak equilibrium provides a direct route to the turbulent state through the S3T roll-streak instability.

A droplet that impacts onto a solid substrate deforms in a complex dynamics. To extract the principal mechanisms that dominate this dynamics, we deploy numerical simulations based on the phase field method. Direct comparison with experiments suggests that a dissipation local to the contact line limits the droplet spreading dynamics and its scaled maximum spreading radius ${\beta }_{\max }$. By assuming linear response through a drag force at the contact line, our simulations rationalize experimental observations for droplet impact on both smooth and rough substrates, measured through a single contact line friction parameter ${\mu }_f$. Moreover, our analysis shows that dissipation at the contact line can limit the dynamics and we describe ${\beta }_{\max }$ by the scaling law ${\beta }_{\max }\sim {(\text{Re}{\mu }_{\mathrm{l}}/{\mu }_f)}^{1/2}$ that is a function of the droplet viscosity $\left({\mu }_{\mathrm{l}}\right)$ and its Reynolds number $\left(\text{Re}\right)$.

A numerical model for direct phase-resolved simulation of nonlinear ocean waves propagating through fragmented sea ice is proposed. In view are applications to wave propagation and attenuation across the marginal ice zone. This model solves the full equations for nonlinear potential flow coupled with a nonlinear thin-plate formulation for the ice cover. A key contribution is to modeling fragmented sea ice, which is accomplished by allowing the coefficient of flexural rigidity to vary spatially so that distributions of ice floes can be directly specified in the physical domain. Two-dimensional simulations are performed to examine the attenuation of solitary waves by scattering through an irregular array of ice floes. Two different measures based on the wave profile are used to quantify its attenuation over time for various floe configurations. Slow (near linear) or fast (exponential-like) decay is observed depending on such parameters as incident wave height, ice concentration, and ice fragmentation.

We present a similarity transformation for the mean velocity profiles in sink flow turbulent boundary layers, including effects of blowing and suction. It is based on symmetry analysis which transforms the governing partial differential equations (for mean mass and momentum) into an ordinary differential equation and yields a new result including an exact, linear relation between the mean normal ($V$) and streamwise ($U$) velocities. A characteristic length function is further introduced which, under a first order expansion (whose coefficient is $\eta$) in wall blowing and suction velocity, leads to the similarity transformation for $U$ with the value of $\eta \approx -1/9$. This transformation is shown to be a group invariant and maps different $U$ profiles under different blowing and suction conditions into a (universal) profile for no blowing or suction. Its inverse transformation enables predictions of all mean quantities in the mean mass and momentum equations, in good agreement with DNS data.

Two vortices of opposite sign in two dimensions merely move along parallel lines. We show that even a small buoyancy completely changes this dynamics. When the vortices are of different density from their surroundings, buoyancy produces a lateral drift by Kutta lift. This causes the density patches to merge, and the vortex dipole to collapse. This is followed by a rapid upward (for light vortices) ejection and creation of small-scale structures by baroclinic torque. Our simple analytical equation explains the trajectory of the vortices. We show that these events occur in viscous simulations of many buoyant vortices.

Inertial waves are known to exist in the Earth's rapidly rotating outer core and could be important for the dynamo generation. It is well known that a monochromatic inertial plane wave traveling parallel to the rotation axis (along positive $z$) has negative helicity while the wave traveling antiparallel (negative $z$) has positive helicity. Such a helicity segregation, north and south of the equator, is necessary for the ${\alpha }^2$-dynamo model based on inertial waves [Davidson, Geophys. J. Int. 198, 1832 (2014)] to work. The core is likely to contain a myriad of inertial waves of different wave numbers and frequencies. In this study, we investigate whether this characteristic of helicity segregation also holds for an inertial wave packet comprising waves with the same sign of $C_{g,z}$, the $z$ component of group velocity. We first derive the polarization relations for inertial waves and subsequently derive the resultant helicity in wave packets forming as a result of superposition of two or more waves. We find that the helicity segregation does hold for an inertial wave packet unless the wave numbers of the constituent waves are widely separated. In the latter case, regions of opposite color helicity do appear, but the mean helicity retains the expected sign. An illustration of this observation is provided by (a) calculating the resultant helicity for a wave packet formed by superposition of four upward-propagating inertial waves with different wave vectors and (b) conducting the direct numerical simulation of a Gaussian eddy under rapid rotation. Last, the possible effects of other forces such as the viscous dissipation, the Lorentz force, buoyancy stratification, and nonlinearity on helicity are investigated and discussed. The helical structure of the wave packet is likely to remain unaffected by dissipation or the magnetic field, but can be modified by the presence of linearly stable stratification and nonlinearity.

A liquid droplet on a hot solid can generate enough vapor to prevent its contact on the surface and reduce the rate of heat transfer, the so-called Leidenfrost effect. We show theoretically and experimentally that for a sufficiently high electrostatic potential on the droplet, the formation of the vapor layer is suppressed. The interplay of the destabilizing electrostatic force and stabilizing capillary force and evaporation determines the minimum or threshold voltage to suppress the Leidenfrost effect. Linear stability theory accurately predicts threshold voltages for different size droplets and varying temperatures.

We study the effect of a no-slip rigid boundary on the dynamics of a flexible helical filament rotating in a viscous fluid, at low Reynolds number conditions (Stokes limit). This system is taken as a reduced model for the propulsion of uniflagellar bacteria, whose locomotion is known to be modified near solid boundaries. Specifically, we focus on how the propulsive force generated by the filament, as well as its buckling onset, are modified by the presence of a wall. We tackle this problem through numerical simulations that couple the elasticity of the filament, the hydrodynamic loading, and the wall effect. Each of these three ingredients is respectively modeled by the discrete elastic rods method (for a geometrically nonlinear description of the filament), Lighthill's slender body theory (for a nonlocal fluid force model), and the method of images (to emulate the boundary). The simulations are systematically validated by precision experiments on a rescaled macroscopic apparatus. We find that the propulsive force increases near the wall, while the critical rotation frequency for the onset of buckling usually decreases. A systematic parametric study is performed to quantify the dependence of the wall effects on the geometric parameters of the helical filament.

The mechanism of the collapse of the superhydrophobic state is elucidated for submerged nanoscale textures forming a three-dimensional interconnected vapor domain. This key issue for the design of nanotextures poses significant simulation challenges as it is characterized by diverse time and length scales. State-of-the-art atomistic rare events simulations are applied for overcoming the long time scales connected with the large free energy barriers. In such interconnected surface cavities wetting starts with the formation of a liquid finger between two pillars. This break of symmetry induces a more gentle bend in the rest of the liquid-vapor interface, which triggers the wetting of the neighboring pillars. This collective mechanism, involving the wetting of several pillars at the same time, could not be captured by previous atomistic simulations using surface models comprising a small number of pillars (often just one). Atomistic results are interpreted in terms of a sharp-interface continuum model which suggests that line tension, condensation, and other nanoscale phenomena play a minor role in the simulated conditions.

Most bubbles contain a mixture of vapor and incondensible gases. While the limit cases of pure vapor and pure gas bubbles are well studied, much less is known about the more realistic case of a mixture. The bubble contents continuously change due to the combined effects of evaporation and condensation and of gas diffusion in the liquid and in the bubble. This paper presents a model for this situation and illustrates by means of examples several physical processes that can occur: a bubble undergoing a temporary pressure reduction, which makes the liquid temporarily superheated; a bubble subjected to a burst of sound; and a bubble continuously growing by rectified diffusion of heat in the presence of an incondensible gas.

A rarefied gas is considered in a channel consisting of two infinite parallel plates between which an evenly spaced array of smaller plates is arranged normal to the channel direction. Each of these smaller plates is assumed to possess one ideally specularly reflective and one ideally diffusively reflective side. When the temperature of the small plates differs from the temperature of the sidewalls of the channel, these boundary conditions result in a temperature profile around the edges of each small plate that breaks the reflection symmetry along the channel direction. This in turn results in a force on each plate and a net gas flow along the channel. The situation is analyzed numerically using the direct simulation Monte Carlo method and compared with analytical results where available. The influence of the ideally specularly reflective wall is assessed by comparing with simulations using a finite accommodation coefficient at the corresponding wall. The configuration bears some similarity to a Crookes radiometer, where a nonsymmetric temperature profile at the radiometer vanes is generated by different temperatures on each side of the vane, resulting in a motion of the rotor. The described principle may find applications in pumping gas on small scales driven by temperature gradients.

Previous studies have shown that intermediate magnitude of surface tension has a counterintuitive destabilizing effect on two-phase planar jets. In the present study, the transition process in confined two-dimensional jets of two fluids with varying viscosity ratio is investigated using direct numerical simulations (DNSs). The outer fluid coflow velocity is $17\%$ of that of the central jet. Neutral curves for the appearance of persistent oscillations are found by recording the norm of the velocity residuals in DNS for over 1000 nondimensional time units or until the signal has reached a constant level in a logarithmic scale, either a converged steady state or a “statistically steady” oscillatory state. Oscillatory final states are found for all viscosity ratios ranging from ${10}^{-1}$ to 10. For uniform viscosity $\left(m=1\right)$, the first bifurcation is through a surface-tension-driven global instability. On the other hand, for low viscosity of the outer fluid, there is a mode competition between a steady asymmetric Coanda-type attachment mode and the surface-tension-induced mode. At moderate surface tension, the first bifurcation is through the Coanda-type attachment, which eventually triggers time-dependent convective bursts. At high surface tension, the first bifurcation is through the surface-tension-dominated mode. For high viscosity of the outer fluid, persistent oscillations appear due to a strong convective instability, although it is shown that absolute instability may be possible at even higher viscosity ratios. Finally, we show that the jet is still convectively and absolutely unstable far from the inlet when the shear profile is nearly constant. Comparing this situation to a parallel Couette flow (without inflection points), we show that in both flows, a hidden interfacial mode brought out by surface tension becomes temporally and absolutely unstable in an intermediate Weber and Reynolds regime. By an energy analysis of the Couette flow case, we show that surface tension, although dissipative, can induce a velocity field near the interface that extracts energy from the flow through a viscous mechanism. This study highlights the rich dynamics of immiscible planar uniform-density jets, where different self-sustained and convective mechanisms compete and the nature of the instability depends on the exact parameter values.

The presence of bubbles and voids inside nozzles has a large effect on the morphology and atomization of sprays. In this investigation the voids formed by microbubbles entering the nozzle are investigated using transparent glass nozzles, pressure transducers, and high-speed diffuse backlight imaging. A correlation is found between the magnitude of pressure pulses inside the nozzle and the size of the bubbles causing these pulses. This relation allows the prediction of cavity formation also in nontransparent nozzles, which allow more realistic conditions of operation. Subsequently, the direct measurements of dispersion derived from the spread of glowing fluid showed no significant increase of the dispersion compared to cavitation-free conditions. This indicates that, while the spray angle may increase, the turbulence (in both liquid and gas phase) that governs the dispersion remains the same and the cavitation bubble events do not have a significant impact on this process.

The dynamics of a three-dimensional (3D) bimodal turbulent wake downstream of a square-back Ahmed body are experimentally studied in a wind tunnel through high-frequency wall-pressure probes mapping the rear of the model and a horizontal two-dimensional (2D) velocity field. The barycenters of the pressure distribution over the rear part of the model and the intensity recirculation are found highly correlated. Both described the most energetic large-scale structures dynamics, confirming the relation between the large-scale recirculation bubble and its wall-pressure footprint. Focusing on the pressure, its barycenter trajectory has a stochastic behavior but its low-frequency dynamics exhibit the same characteristics as a weak strange chaotic attractor system, with two well-defined attractors. The low-frequency dynamics associated to the large-scale structures are then analyzed. The largest Lyapunov exponent is first estimated, leading to a low positive value characteristic of strange attractors and weak chaotic systems. Afterwards, analyzing the autocorrelation function of the timeseries, we compute the correlation dimension, larger than two. The signal is finally transformed and analyzed as a telegraph signal, showing that its dynamics correspond to a quasirandom telegraph signal. This is the first demonstration that the low-frequency dynamics of a turbulent 3D wake are not a purely stochastic process but rather a weak chaotic process exhibiting strange attractors. From the flow control point of view, it also opens the path to more simple closed-loop flow-control strategies aiming at the stabilization of the wake and the control of the dynamics of the wake barycenter.

Among different devices developed quite recently to quantify the resistance to erosion of natural soil within the broader context of dyke safety, the most commonly used is probably the jet erosion test in which a scouring crater is induced by impingement of an immersed water jet. A comprehensive experimental investigation on the jet erosion in the specific situation of a cohesionless granular material is presented here. The tests were performed by combining special optical techniques allowing for an accurate measurement of the scouring onset and evolution inside an artificially translucent granular sample. The impinging jet hydrodynamics are also analyzed, empirically validating the use of a self-similar theoretical framework for the laminar round jet. The critical conditions at the onset of erosion appear to be best described by a dimensionless Shields number based on the inertial drag force created by the fluid flow on the eroded particles rather than on the pressure gradients around them. To conclude, a tentative empirical model for the maximal flow velocity initiating erosion at the bottom of the scoured crater is put forward and discussed in the light of some preliminary results.

Turbulence modeling is a critical component in numerical simulations of industrial flows based on Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations. However, after decades of efforts in the turbulence modeling community, universally applicable RANS models with predictive capabilities are still lacking. Large discrepancies in the RANS-modeled Reynolds stresses are the main source that limits the predictive accuracy of RANS models. Identifying these discrepancies is of significance to possibly improve the RANS modeling. In this work, we propose a data-driven, physics-informed machine learning approach for reconstructing discrepancies in RANS modeled Reynolds stresses. The discrepancies are formulated as functions of the mean flow features. By using a modern machine learning technique based on random forests, the discrepancy functions are trained by existing direct numerical simulation (DNS) databases and then used to predict Reynolds stress discrepancies in different flows where data are not available. The proposed method is evaluated by two classes of flows: (1) fully developed turbulent flows in a square duct at various Reynolds numbers and (2) flows with massive separations. In separated flows, two training flow scenarios of increasing difficulties are considered: (1) the flow in the same periodic hills geometry yet at a lower Reynolds number and (2) the flow in a different hill geometry with a similar recirculation zone. Excellent predictive performances were observed in both scenarios, demonstrating the merits of the proposed method.