Description |
Fluid turbulence, and the transition from a laminar to a turbulent flow,
is probably the most important unsolved problems in physics, more than a
century after it was first discovered. The distinction between laminar and
turbulent flows, and the characteristics of turbulent flows, will first be
reviewed. This will be followed by a discussion about why fluid turbulence
is difficult to understand, but also essential for life as we know it. The
transition to turbulence due to hydrodynamic instabilities is well
understood in some flows, such as rotating flow and fluids heated from
below, and the routes to turbulence in these kinds of flows will be
discussed. The transition is poorly understood in simple flows such as
pipe flows; the reasons for these will be highlighted. Some of our work in
understanding turbulence at small scales will be discussed. The talk will
be at a basic level accessible to all.
About Prof. V.Kumaran:
Prof. V.Kumaran did his B.Tech. from IIT Madras (1987) and Ph.D. from
Cornell University (1991) both in Chemical Engineering. Among the awards
and honours he won are JC Bose National Fellowship (2007), Swarnajayanti
Fellowship (2002), Bhatnagar Award (2000), Amar Dye-Chem Award (1999),
Indian National Academy of Engineering Young Engineer Award (1997) and
Indian National Science Academy Young Scientist Medal (1996). He is a
fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering (2006), Indian National
Science Academy (2001) and Indian Academy of Sciences (1998). Prof.
Kumaran serves on the editorial boards of Soft Materials, Sadhana and
Indian Journal of Chemical Technology as well as on the advisory Board of
Acta Mechanica journals.
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