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Analysis of atmospheric turbulence measurements by spectral and discretegust methods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

G. W. Foster
Affiliation:
Royal Aerospace Establishment, Bedford
J. G. Jones
Affiliation:
Royal Aerospace Establishment, Farnborough

Summary

Detailed measurements of atmospheric-turbulence velocity have been made by a specially instrumented aircraft at altitudes below one thousand feet over a variety of terrains. These measurements are analysed in terms of power-spectral-density and a statistical-discrete-gust model. To a good approximation, spatial increments in turbulence velocity are shown to satisfy scaling laws implying self-similarity for amplitudes up to about four times their root-mean-square value and over a wide range of scales. A three-parameter relationship is established between two parameters from the statistical-discrete-gust analysis, corresponding respectively to intermittency and gust intensity, and one from the power-spectral representation, related to the average rate of energy dissipation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1989 

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