Date Awarded
1987
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Physics
Abstract
Renormalization group theory is applied to incompressible three-dimension Navier-Stokes turbulence so as to eliminate unresolvable small scales. The renormalized Navier-Stokes equation includes a triple nonlinearity with the eddy viscosity exhibiting a mild cusp behavior, in qualitative agreement with the test-field model results of Kraichnan. For the cusp behavior to arise, not only is the triple nonlinearity necessary but the effects of pressure must be incorporated in the triple term.;Renormalization group theory is also applied to a model Alfven wave turbulence equation. In particular, the effect of small unresolvable subgrid scales on the large scales is computed. It is found that the removal of the subgrid scales leads to a renormalized response function. (i) This response function can be calculated analytically via the difference renormalization group technique. Strong absorption can occur around the Alfven frequency for sharply peaked subgrid frequency spectra. (ii) With the {dollar}\epsilon{dollar} - expansion renormalization group approach, the Lorenzian wavenumber spectrum of Chen and Mahajan can be recovered for finite {dollar}\epsilon{dollar}, but the nonlinear coupling constant still remains small, fully justifying the neglect of higher order nonlinearities introduced by the renormalization group procedure.
DOI
https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.21220/s2-x3ra-2j36
Rights
© The Author
Recommended Citation
Zhou, Ye, "Renormalization group theory technique and subgrid scale closure for fluid and plasma turbulence" (1987). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. William & Mary. Paper 1539623774.
https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.21220/s2-x3ra-2j36
