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A new method for isolating turbulent states in transitional stratified plane Couette flow

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 October 2016

J. R. Taylor ,
E. Deusebio ,
C. P. Caulfield  and
R. R. Kerswell
J. R. Taylor*
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Willberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA, UK
E. Deusebio
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Willberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA, UK
C. P. Caulfield
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Willberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA, UK BP Institute, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0EZ, UK
R. R. Kerswell
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TW, UK
*
†Email address for correspondence: jrt51@cam.ac.uk
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Abstract

We present a new adaptive control strategy to isolate and stabilize turbulent states in transitional, stably stratified plane Couette flow in which the gravitational acceleration (non-dimensionalized as the bulk Richardson number $Ri$) is adjusted in time to maintain the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) of the flow. We demonstrate that applying this method at various stages of decaying stratified turbulence halts the decay process and allows a succession of intermediate turbulent states of decreasing energy to be isolated and stabilized. Once the energy of the initial flow becomes small enough, we identify a single minimal turbulent spot, and lower-energy states decay to laminar flow. Interestingly, the turbulent states which emerge from this process have very similar time-averaged $Ri$, but TKE levels different by an order of magnitude. The more energetic states consist of several turbulent spots, each qualitatively similar to the minimal turbulent spot. This suggests that the minimal turbulent spot may well be the lowest-energy turbulent state which forms a basic building block of stratified plane Couette flow. The fact that a minimal spot of turbulence can be stabilized, so that it neither decays nor grows, opens up exciting opportunities for further study of spatiotemporally intermittent stratified turbulence.

JFM classification

Geophysical and Geological Flows: Stratified flows Turbulent Flows: Stratified turbulence Instability: Transition to turbulence
Type
Rapids
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 808 , 10 December 2016 , R1
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Copyright
© 2016 Cambridge University Press 

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