Turbulence is that state of fluid flow which is characterized by random and chaotic motions. When present, it usually dominates all other flow phenomena including mixing, heat transfer, and drag. The lack of a satisfactory understanding of turbulence presents one of the great remaining fundamental challenges to scientists and to engineers as well, since most technologically important flows are turbulent.
Goals
The mission of the Turbulence Research Laboratory (TRL) is threefold:
- To gain fundamental knowledge about turbulence through theoretical and
experimental research
- To develop new and improved techniques for the study of turbulence in
both laboratory and real-world environments.
- To assist university and industrial researchers and engineers in
confronting problems involving turbulent phenomena.
The research activities of TRL are summarized in its annual reports and publications. These investigations range from the laboratory modeling of automotive and gas turbines flows, to fundamental studies of the nature of turbulence in free shear flows, near walls and driven by natural convection. Five faculty are directly involved in research supervision, including two from industry. TRL is a major contributor to the International Master's Program in Computation and Experimental Turbulence, which prepares fourth year students to apply turbulence ideas and concepts to a variety of related disciplines in which turbulence is important. Finally, TRL staff contribute regularly to the general science education of the community, including visits to schools, lab tours, and the Göteborg science festival.
BackgroundOn Sept. 5, 2000, William K. George officially joined the Chalmers
University of Technology faculty as Professor of Turbulence and the
Turbulence Research Laboratory (TRL) was established as a part of the
Department of Thermo and Fluid Dynamics.
Rolf I. Karlsson was also appointed by Chalmers as Adjunct Professor of
Experimental Fluid Mechanics at almost the same time, and chose to
associate with this new laboratory.
Gunnar Johansson and Bert Johansson, longtime Chalmers staff members
joined the group, as did two doctoral students already in the
department, Bernhard Gustafsson and Peter Johansson. In October, Martin
Wosnik was hired as Assistant Professor. Finally in June, 2001, an
advanced Ph.D. student, Stephan Gamard, came from Buffalo to complete
his studies here.
Turbulence Research Laboratory,
-----------------------------------------------
Picture:
COHERENT STRUCTURES IN A TURBULENT CHANNEL FLOW
M. A. Green, C. W. Rowley & G. Haller, Princeton University
