Robert Rubinstein, Computational Aerosciences Branch, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA
3:30 – 5PM
Thursday Feb 12, 2009
POB 6.304
Abstract
One of the earliest heuristics in turbulence connects turbulent transport to kinetic theory by an analogy between molecular and hydrodynamic fluctuations. This, and some more recent attempts to link turbulence and kinetic theory will be reviewed. Another analogy of this type will be proposed.
If the turbulent energy spectrum can be parametrized by two moments, the Hilbert expansion can be applied to a turbulence closure to derive a closed system of equations governing these moments.
Similarities and differences between this derivation of a 'two-equation' turbulence model and the Hilbert and Chapman-Enskog expansions in kinetic theory will be discussed.
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Ph.D. from MIT mathematics, 1972.Contractor (Sverdrup Technology) at NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, 1984-1995. Moved to ICASE (Institute for Computer Applications in Science and Engineering), NASA Langley 1995-2000 Research Scientist (I think it's OK to call me that) at NASA Langley 2000-present. Main interests: turbulence theory and modeling, more recently, RGD in support of Hypersonics research in the Fundamental Aeronautics Program beginning in 2003.