Size distribution spectrum of noninertial particles in turbulence.

Saito, Izumi; Gotoh, Toshiyuki; Watanabe, Takeshi · Phys Rev E · 2018

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Collision-coalescence growth of noninertial particles in three-dimensional homogeneous isotropic turbulence is studied. Smoluchowski's coagulation equation describes the evolution of the size distribution of particles in this system. By applying a methodology based on turbulence theory, the equation is shown to have a steady-state solution, which corresponds to the Kolmogorov-type power-law spectrum. Direct numerical simulations of turbulence and Lagrangian particles are conducted. The result shows that the size distribution in a statistically steady state agrees accurately with the theoretical prediction.