Secret Hidden in Navier-Stokes Equations: Singularity and Criterion of Turbulent Transition

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations based on energy gradients, identifies a singular point linked to turbulence transition, and establishes conditions for flow stability and transition.

Contribution

It derives a novel energy-gradient-based formulation of Navier-Stokes equations and identifies a singular point as a necessary and sufficient condition for turbulent transition.

Findings

Singular point corresponds to inflection point in velocity profile for pressure-driven flows.

Flow stability depends on the energy gradient direction relative to streamlines.

Existence of singularity is both necessary and sufficient for turbulent transition.

Abstract

A new formulation of the Navier-Stokes equation, in terms of the gradient of the total mechanical energy, is derived for the time-averaged flows, and the singular point possibly existing in the Navier-Stokes equation is exactly found. Transition of a laminar flow to turbulence must be implemented via this singular point. For pressure driven flows, this singular point corresponds to the inflection point on the velocity profile. It is found that the stability of a flow depends on the direction of the gradient of the total mechanical energy for incompressible pressure-driven flow. When this direction is nearer the normal direction of the streamline, the flow is more unstable. It is further demonstrated that the existence of the singularity in the time-averaged Navier-Stokes equation is the necessary and sufficient condition for the turbulent transition. In turbulent transition, it is observed that the role of disturbance is to promote the flow approaching to produce this singular point. These results are the most important part of the energy gradient theory.