Investigations about the role of nuclei and nucleation for the inception and formation of cavitation have been part of cavitation research since Harvey et al. (J. Cell. Physiol., vol. 24 (1), 1944, pp. 1–22) postulated the existence of gas filled crevices on surfaces and particles in liquids. In a supersaturated liquid, surface nuclei produce small gas bubbles due to mass transfer of gas or themselves work as weak spots in the liquid that are necessary for a phase change under technically relevant static pressures. Although various theories and models about nuclei and nucleation have found their way into standard literature, there is a lack of experimentally validated theories that describe the process of diffusion-driven nucleation in hydrodynamic cavitation. In order to close this gap we give new theoretical insights into the physics of this nucleation mechanism at technically relevant low supersaturations validated with extensive experimental results. The nucleation rate, the number of produced bubbles per second, is proportional to the supersaturation of the liquid and shows a nonlinear dependence on the shear rate at the surface nucleus. A model for the Strouhal number as dimensionless nucleation rate is derived allowing the estimation of nucleation rates from surface nuclei in hydrodynamic cavitation. The model provides three asymptotes, being a function of Péclet number, Weber number, the supersaturation of the liquid $\unicode[STIX]{x1D701}$ and gas solubility $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}$ for three different detachment mechanisms, $Sr\propto \unicode[STIX]{x1D701}\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}We^{n}Pe^{1/3}$ with $n=1/3,3/4,1$. The theoretical findings are in good agreement with experimental results, leading to a new assessment of the role of diffusion in cavitating flows.

We perform a static analysis of a circular cylinder that forms a barrier between surfactant-laden and surfactant-free portions of a liquid–gas interface. In addition to determining the general implications of the balances for forces and torques, we quantify how the imbalance $\unicode[STIX]{x0394}\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}=\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}_{a}-\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}_{b}$ between the uniform surface tension $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}_{a}$ of the surfactant-free portion of the interface and the uniform surface tension $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}_{b}$ of the surfactant-laden portion of the interface influences the load-bearing capacity of a hydrophobic cylinder. Moreover, we demonstrate that the difference between surface tensions on either side of a cylinder with a cross-section of arbitrary shape induces a horizontal force component $f^{h}$ equal to $\unicode[STIX]{x0394}\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}$ in magnitude, when measured per unit length of the cylinder. With an energetic argument, we show that this relation also applies to a rod-like barrier with cross-sections of variable shape. In addition, we apply our analysis to amphiphilic Janus cylinders and we discuss practical implications of our findings for Marangoni propulsion and surface pressure measurements.

The scaling of turbulent motions is investigated by considering the flow in the eigenframe of the local strain-rate tensor. The flow patterns in this frame of reference are evaluated using existing direct numerical simulations of homogeneous isotropic turbulence over a Reynolds number range from $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}}=34.6$ up to 1131, and also with reference to data for inhomogeneous, anisotropic wall turbulence. The average flow in the eigenframe reveals a shear layer structure containing tube-like vortices and a dissipation sheet, whose dimensions scale with the Kolmogorov length scale, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}$. The vorticity stretching motions scale with the Taylor length scale, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}_{T}$, while the flow outside the shear layer scales with the integral length scale, $L$. Furthermore, the spatial organization of the vortices and the dissipation sheet defines a characteristic small-scale structure. The overall size of this characteristic small-scale structure is $120\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}$ in all directions based on the coherence length of the vorticity. This is considerably larger than the typical size of individual vortices, and reflects the importance of spatial organization at the small scales. Comparing the overall size of the characteristic small-scale structure with the largest flow scales and the vorticity stretching motions on the scale of $4\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}_{T}$ shows that transitions in flow structure occur where $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}}\approx 45$ and 250. Below these respective transitional Reynolds numbers, the small-scale motions and the vorticity stretching motions are progressively less well developed. Scale interactions are examined by decomposing the average shear layer into a local flow, which is induced by the shear layer vorticity, and a non-local flow, which represents the environment of the characteristic small-scale structure. The non-local strain is $4\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}_{T}$ in width and height, which is consistent with observations in high Reynolds number flow of a $4\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}_{T}$ wide instantaneous shear layer with many $\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}$-scale vortical structures inside (Ishihara et al., Flow Turbul. Combust., vol. 91, 2013, pp. 895–929). In the average shear layer, vorticity aligns with the intermediate principal strain at small scales, while it aligns with the most stretching principal strain at larger scales, consistent with instantaneous turbulence. The length scale at which the alignment changes depends on the Reynolds number. When conditioning the flow in the eigenframe on extreme dissipation, the velocity is strongly affected over large distances. Moreover, the associated peak velocity remains Reynolds number dependent when normalized by the Kolmogorov velocity scale. It signifies that extreme dissipation is not simply a small-scale property, but is associated with large scales at the same time.

The nonlinear stability of viscous, immiscible multilayer flows in plane channels driven both by a pressure gradient and gravity is studied. Three fluid phases are present with two interfaces. Weakly nonlinear models of coupled evolution equations for the interfacial positions are derived and studied for inertialess, stably stratified flows in channels at small inclination angles. Interfacial tension is demoted and high-wavenumber stabilisation enters due to density stratification through second-order dissipation terms rather than the fourth-order ones found for strong interfacial tension. An asymptotic analysis is carried out to demonstrate how these models arise. The governing equations are $2\times 2$ systems of second-order semi-linear parabolic partial differential equations (PDEs) that can exhibit inertialess instabilities due to interaction between the interfaces. Mathematically this takes place due to a transition of the nonlinear flux function from hyperbolic to elliptic behaviour. The concept of hyperbolic invariant regions, found in nonlinear parabolic systems, is used to analyse this inertialess mechanism and to derive a transition criterion to predict the large-time nonlinear state of the system. The criterion is shown to predict nonlinear stability or instability of flows that are stable initially, i.e. the initial nonlinear fluxes are hyperbolic. Stability requires the hyperbolicity to persist at large times, whereas instability sets in when ellipticity is encountered as the system evolves. In the former case the solution decays asymptotically to its uniform base state, while in the latter case nonlinear travelling waves can emerge that could not be predicted by a linear stability analysis. The nonlinear analysis predicts threshold initial disturbances above which instability emerges.

In this work, an exact Eulerian model is used to describe the steady-state motion of a bidirectional vortex in a conical chamber. This particular model is applicable to idealized representations of cyclone separators and liquid rocket engines with slowly expanding chamber cross-sections. The corresponding bulk motion is assumed to be non-reactive, rotational, inviscid and incompressible. Then, following Bloor & Ingham (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 178, 1987, pp. 507–519), the spherical Bragg–Hawthorne equation is used to construct a mathematical model that connects the solution to the swirl number and the cone divergence angle. Consequently, a self-similar formulation is obtained independently of the cone’s finite body length. This enables us to characterize the problem using closed-form approximations of the principal flow variables. Among the cyclonic parameters of interest, the mantle divergence angle and the maximum cross-flow velocity are obtained explicitly. The mantle consists of a spinning cone that separates the circumferential inflow region from the central outflow. This interfacial layer bisects the fluid domain at approximately 60 per cent of the cone’s divergence half-angle. Its accurate determination is proven asymptotically using two different criteria, one being preferred by experimentalists. Finally, recognizing that the flow in question is of the Beltramian type, results are systematically described over a range of cone angles and spatial locations in both spherical and cylindrical coordinates; they are also compared to available experimental and numerical data.

In recent years considerable progress has been made in the continuum modelling of granular flows, in particular the $\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}(I)$-rheology, which links the local viscosity in a flow to the strain rate and pressure through the non-dimensional inertial number $I$. This formulation greatly benefits from its similarity to the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations as it allows many existing numerical methods to be used. Unfortunately, this system of equations is ill posed when the inertial number is too high or too low. The consequence of ill posedness is that the growth rate of small perturbations tends to infinity in the high wavenumber limit. Due to this, numerical solutions are grid dependent and cannot be taken as being physically realistic. In this paper changes to the functional form of the $\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}(I)$ curve are considered, in order to maximise the range of well-posed inertial numbers, while preserving the overall structure of the equations. It is found that when the inertial number is low there exist curves for which the equations are guaranteed to be well posed. However when the inertial number is very large the equations are found to be ill posed regardless of the functional dependence of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}$ on $I$. A new $\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}(I)$ curve, which is inspired by the analysis of the governing equations and by experimental data, is proposed here. In order to test this regularised rheology, transient granular flows on inclined planes are studied. It is found that simulations of flows, which show signs of ill posedness with unregularised models, are numerically stable and match key experimental observations when the regularised model is used. This paper details two-dimensional transient computations of decelerating flows where the inertial number tends to zero, high-speed flows that have large inertial numbers, and flows which develop into granular rollwaves. This is the first time that granular rollwaves have been simulated in two dimensions, which represents a major step towards the simulation of other complex granular flows.

When a liquid drop is placed on a highly superheated surface, it can be levitated by its own vapour. This remarkable phenomenon is referred to as the Leidenfrost effect. The thermally insulating vapour film results in a severe reduction of the heat transfer rate compared to experiments at lower surface temperatures, where the drop is in direct contact with the solid surface. A commonly made assumption is that this solid surface is isothermal, which is at least questionable for materials of low thermal conductivity, resulting in an overestimation of the surface temperature and heat transfer for such systems. Here we aim to obtain more quantitative insight into how surface cooling affects the Leidenfrost effect. We develop a technique based on Mach–Zehnder interferometry to investigate the surface cooling of a quartz plate by a Leidenfrost drop. The three-dimensional plate temperature field is reconstructed from interferometric data by an Abel inversion method using a basis function expansion of the underlying temperature field. By this method we are able to quantitatively measure the local cooling inside the plate, which can be as strong as 80 K. We develop a numerical model which shows good agreement with experiments and enables extending the analysis beyond the experimental parameter space. Based on the numerical and experimental results we quantify the effect of surface cooling on the Leidenfrost phenomenon. By focusing on the role of the solid surface we provide new insights into the Leidenfrost effect and demonstrate how to adjust current models to account for non-isothermal solids and use previously obtained isothermal scaling laws for the neck thickness and evaporation rate.

In this study, we experimentally investigate the turbulent drag-reduction (DR) mechanism in flow through ducts of circular, rectangular and square cross-sections using two grades of polyacrylamide in aqueous solution having different molecular weights and various semidilute concentrations. Specifically, we explore the relationship between drag reduction and fluid elasticity, purposely exploiting the mechanical degradation of polymer molecules to vary their rheological properties. We also obtain time-resolved velocity data for various DR levels using particle image velocimetry and laser Doppler velocimetry. Elasticity is quantified via relaxation times determined from uniaxial extensional flow using a capillary breakup apparatus. A plot of DR against Weissenberg number ($Wi$) is found to approximately collapse the data, with the onset of DR occurring at $Wi\approx 0.5$ and the maximum drag-reduction asymptote being approached for $Wi\gtrsim 5$. Thus quantitative predictions of DR in a range of shear flows can be made from a single measurable material property of a polymer solution, at least for this particular flexible linear polymer.

First-principle-based prediction of mean-flow quantities of wall-bounded turbulent flows (channel, pipe and turbulent boundary layer (TBL)) is of great importance from both physics and engineering standpoints. Here we present a symmetry-based approach which yields analytical expressions for the mean-velocity profile (MVP) from a Lie-group analysis. After verifying the dilatation-group invariance of the Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equation in the presence of a wall, we depart from previous Lie-group studies of wall turbulence by selecting a stress length function as a similarity variable. We argue that this stress length function characterizes the symmetry property of wall flows having a simple dilatation-invariant form. Three kinds of (local) invariant forms of the length function are postulated, a combination of which yields a multi-layer formula giving its distribution in the entire flow region normal to the wall and hence also the MVP, using the mean-momentum equation. In particular, based on this multi-layer formula, we obtain analytical expressions for the (universal) wall function and separate wake functions for pipe and channel, which are validated by data from direct numerical simulations (DNS). In conclusion, an analytical expression for the entire MVP of wall turbulence, beyond the log law or power law, is developed in this paper and the theory can be used to describe the mean turbulent kinetic-energy distribution, as well as a variety of boundary conditions such as pressure gradient, wall roughness, buoyancy, etc. where the dilatation-group invariance is valid in the wall-normal direction.

The process of initial ice formation in brine is a highly complex problem. In this paper, we propose a mathematical model that captures the dynamics of nucleation and development of ice inclusions in brine. The primary emphasis is on the interaction between ice growth and salt diffusion, subject to external forcing provided by temperature. Within this setting two freezing regimes are identified, depending on the rate of change of the temperature: a slow freezing regime where a continuous ice domain is formed; and a fast freezing regime where recurrent nucleation appears within the fluid domain. The second regime is of primary interest, as it leads to fractal-like ice structures. We analyse the critical threshold between the slow and fast regimes by identifying the explicit rates of external temperature control that lead to self-similar salt-concentration profiles in the fluid domains. Subsequent heuristic analysis provides estimates of the characteristic length scales of the fluid domains depending on the time-variation of the temperature. The analysis is confirmed by numerical simulations.

This work introduces a similarity solution to the problem of a viscous, incompressible and rotational fluid in a right-cylindrical chamber with uniformly porous walls and a non-circular cross-section. The attendant idealization may be used to model the non-reactive internal flow field of a solid rocket motor with a star-shaped grain configuration. By mapping the radial domain to a circular pipe flow, the Navier–Stokes equations are converted to a fourth-order differential equation that is reminiscent of Berman’s classic expression. Then assuming a small radial deviation from a fixed chamber radius, asymptotic expansions of the three-component velocity and pressure fields are systematically pursued to the second order in the radial deviation amplitude. This enables us to derive a set of ordinary differential relations that can be readily solved for the mean flow variables. In the process of characterizing the ensuing flow motion, the axial, radial and tangential velocities are compared and shown to agree favourably with the simulation results of a finite-volume Navier–Stokes solver at different cross-flow Reynolds numbers, deviation amplitudes and circular wavenumbers.

We present a fully predictive model for the impact of a smooth, convex and perfectly hydrophobic solid onto the free surface of an incompressible fluid bath of infinite depth in a regime where surface tension is important. During impact, we impose natural kinematic constraints along the portion of the fluid interface that is pressed by the solid. This provides a mechanism for the generation of linear surface waves and simultaneously yields the pressure applied on the impacting masses. The model compares remarkably well with data of the impact of spheres and bouncing droplet experiments, and is completely free of any of impact parametrisation.

Analytical solutions are found for both longitudinal and transverse shear flow, at zero Reynolds number, over immobilized superhydrophobic surfaces comprising a periodic array of near-circular menisci penetrating into a no-slip surface and where the menisci are no longer shear-free but are taken to be no-slip zones. Explicit formulae for the associated longitudinal and transverse effective slip lengths are derived; these are then compared with analogous results for superhydrophobic surfaces of the same characteristic geometry but where the menisci are shear-free. The new formulae give results that are consistent with recent experimental observations that have prompted suggestions that menisci that are assumed to be free of shear have in fact been immobilized. Significantly, for transverse shear flow, it is found that at critical downward meniscus protrusion angles of around $47^{\circ }$, for many surface geometries, it is impossible to distinguish, purely from the effective slip length, between a no-shear and a no-slip boundary condition. We also find that immobilized menisci bowing into the grooves at supercritical angles just below $90^{\circ }$ can be almost twice as slippery to transverse shear as no-shear menisci. The results are relevant to recent discussion as to whether surface immobilization, due to contamination by surfactants or other physical mechanisms, is compromising drag reduction properties expected from an assumed no-shear condition.

Kelvin’s minimum energy theorem predicts that the irrotational motion of a homogeneously incompressible fluid in a simply connected region will carry less kinetic energy than any other profile that shares the same normal velocity conditions on the domain’s boundary. In this work, Kelvin’s analysis is extended to regions with boundaries on which the normal velocity requirements are relaxed. Given the ubiquity of practical configurations in which such boundaries exist, the question of whether Kelvin’s theorem continues to hold is one of significant interest. In reconstructing Kelvin’s proof, we find it useful to define a net rotational velocity as the difference between the generally rotational flow and the corresponding potential motion. In Kelvin’s classic theorem, the normal component of the net rotational velocity at all domain boundaries is zero. In contrast, the present analysis derives a sufficient condition for ensuring the validity of Kelvin’s theorem in a domain where the normal component of net rotational velocity at some or all of the boundaries is not zero. The corresponding criterion requires the evaluation of a simple surface integral over the boundary.

The aim of this work is to better understand fluid displacement mechanisms at the pore scale in relation to capillary-filling rules. Using specifically designed micro-models we investigate the role of pore body shape on fluid displacement during drainage and imbibition via quasi-static and spontaneous experiments at ambient conditions. The experimental results are directly compared to lattice Boltzmann (LB) simulations. The critical pore-filling pressures for the quasi-static experiments agree well with those predicted by the Young–Laplace equation and follow the expected filling events. However, the spontaneous imbibition experimental results differ from those predicted by the Young–Laplace equation; instead of entering the narrowest available downstream throat the wetting phase enters an adjacent throat first. Thus, pore geometry plays a vital role as it becomes the main deciding factor in the displacement pathways. Current pore network models used to predict displacement at the field scale may need to be revised as they currently use the filling rules proposed by Lenormand et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 135, 1983, pp. 337–353). Energy balance arguments are particularly insightful in understanding the aspects affecting capillary-filling rules. Moreover, simulation results on spontaneous imbibition, in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions, reveal that the capillary number itself is not sufficient to characterise the two phase flow. The Ohnesorge number, which gives the relative importance of viscous forces over inertial and capillary forces, is required to fully describe the fluid flow, along with the viscosity ratio.

In this work, an exact Euler solution is derived under the fundamental contingencies of axisymmetric, steady, rotational, incompressible, single-phase, non-reactive and inviscid fluid, which also stand behind the ubiquitously used mean flow profile named ‘Taylor–Culick.’ In comparison with the latter, which proves to be complex lamellar, the present model is derived in the context of a Trkalian flow field, and hence is capable of generating a non-zero swirl component that increases linearly in the streamwise direction. This enables us to provide an essential mathematical representation that is appropriate for flow configurations where the bulk gaseous motion is driven to swirl. From a procedural standpoint, the new Trkalian solution is deduced directly from the Bragg–Hawthorne equation, which has been repeatedly shown to possess sufficient latitude to reproduce several existing profiles such as Taylor–Culick’s as special cases. Throughout this study, the fundamental properties of the present model are considered and discussed in the light of existing flow approximations. Consistent with the original Taylor–Culick mean flow motion, the Trkalian velocity is seen to exhibit both axial and tangential components that increase linearly with the distance from the headwall, and a radial component that remains axially invariant. Furthermore, the Trkalian model is shown to form a subset of the Beltramian class of solutions for which the velocity and vorticity vectors are not only parallel but also directly proportional. This characteristic feature is interesting, as it stands in sharp contrast to the complex-lamellar nature of the Taylor–Culick motion, where the velocity and vorticity vectors remain orthogonal. By way of verification, a numerical simulation is carried out using a finite-volume solver, thus leading to a favourable agreement between theoretical and numerical predictions.

This paper describes a study of the generation of a plughole vortex and its consequences in a drainpipe during drainage of water from a stationary rectangular tank. The critical and minimum depths of water above the inlet of the drainpipe, where a surface dip starts to develop for drainpipes of various diameters, were examined parametrically. This study explored the following naturally occurring phenomena arising from a plughole vortex. (i) A plughole vortex initially causes a surface dip to develop towards the inlet of the drainpipe and as the surface dip approaches the inlet of the drainpipe it creates a droplet-shaped air bubble. (ii) A unique bubble transformation, i.e. from a droplet-shaped to a donut-shaped bubble ring, occurs just after the separation of the droplet-shaped air bubble from the surface dip. (iii) The donut-shaped bubble ring flows with the drain water and initially causes bubbly flow in the drainpipe. (iv) As the water head above the inlet of the drainpipe decreases, the droplet-shaped bubble size increases, and consequently, the bubble ring size increases and causes slug flow in the drainpipe. (v) As the slugs combine, the flow of the draining water eventually becomes annular flow in the drainpipe. Sounds, such as that of instantaneous fizz and bubble sink draining, were observed to be produced as a result of the bubble formation process. Temporal changes in the shape and size of the air bubbles were studied. Within the range of 0.45–0.6, the ratio of the bubble diameter to the bubble length was found to be linearly proportional to the ratio of the water depth to the diameter of the drainpipe. Several drainage cases were simulated numerically to observe the physics of these naturally occurring phenomena. The shapes and sizes of the vortices induced by plugholes have been visualised and analysed using the vortex core method.

In this study, the Bragg–Hawthorne equation (BHE) is extended in the context of a steady, inviscid and compressible fluid, thus leading to an assortment of partial differential equations that must be solved simultaneously. A solution is pursued by implementing a Rayleigh–Janzen expansion in the square of the reference Mach number. The corresponding formulation is subsequently used to derive a compressible approximation for the Trkalian model of the bidirectional vortex. The approximate solution is compared to a representative computational fluid dynamics simulation in order to validate the modelling assumptions under realistic conditions. The latter is found to exhibit an appreciable steepening of the axial velocity profile, which is accompanied by an axial dependence in the mantle location that is somewhat reminiscent of the radial shifting of mantles reported in some experimental trials and simulations. In this context, flows with a strong swirl intensity do not seem to be significantly affected by the introduction of compressibility. Rather, as the swirl intensity is reduced the effects of compressibility become more noticeable, especially in the axial and radial velocity components. It may also be realized that imparting a progressively larger swirl component stands to promote the axisymmetric distribution of flow field properties, and these include an implicit resistance to dilatational effects in the tangential direction. From a broader perspective, this study provides a viable approximation to the Trkalian motion associated with cyclonic flows, while serving as a limited proof of concept for the compressible Bragg–Hawthorne procedure applied to a steady, axisymmetric and inviscid fluid.

Snow avalanches are typically initiated on marginally stable slopes with a surface layer of fresh snow that may easily be incorporated into them. The erosion of snow at the front is fundamental to the dynamics and growth of snow avalanches and they may rapidly bulk up, making them much more destructive than the initial release. Snow may also deposit at the rear, base and sides of the flow and the net balance of erosion and deposition determines whether an avalanche grows or decays. In this paper, small-scale analogue experiments are performed on a rough inclined plane with a static erodible layer of carborundum grains. The static layer is prepared by slowly closing down a flow from a hopper at the top of the slope. This leaves behind a uniform-depth layer of thickness $h_{stop}$ at a given slope inclination. Due to the hysteresis of the rough bed friction law, this layer can then be inclined to higher angles provided that the thickness does not exceed $h_{start}$, which is the maximum depth that can be held static on a rough bed. An avalanche is then initiated on top of the static layer by releasing a fixed volume of carborundum grains. Dependent on the slope inclination and the depth of the static layer three different behaviours are observed. For initial deposit depths above $h_{stop}$, the avalanche rapidly grows in size by progressively entraining more and more grains at the front and sides, and depositing relatively few particles at the base and tail. This leaves behind a trough eroded to a depth below the initial deposit surface and whose maximal areal extent has a triangular shape. Conversely, a release on a shallower slope, with a deposit of thickness $h_{stop}$, leads to net deposition. This time the avalanche leaves behind a levee-flanked channel, the floor of which lies above the level of the initial deposit and narrows downstream. It is also possible to generate avalanches that have a perfect balance between net erosion and deposition. These avalanches propagate perfectly steadily downslope, leaving a constant-width trail with levees flanking a shallow trough cut slightly lower than the initial deposit surface. The cross-section of the trail therefore represents an exact redistribution of the mass reworked from the initial static layer. Granular flow problems involving erosion and deposition are notoriously difficult, because there is no accepted method of modelling the phase transition between static and moving particles. Remarkably, it is shown in this paper that by combining Pouliquen & Forterre’s (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 453, 2002, pp. 133–151) extended friction law with the depth-averaged $\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}(I)$-rheology of Gray & Edwards (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 755, 2014, pp. 503–544) it is possible to develop a two-dimensional shallow-water-like avalanche model that qualitatively captures all of the experimentally observed behaviour. Furthermore, the computed wavespeed, wave peak height and stationary layer thickness, as well as the distance travelled by decaying avalanches, are all in good quantitative agreement with the experiments. This model is therefore likely to have important practical implications for modelling the initiation, growth and decay of snow avalanches for hazard assessment and risk mitigation.

The fluctuations in power output from wind farms display significantly reduced spectra compared to single wind turbines due to power smoothing and averaging. In order to better understand these spectral features and to relate them to properties of turbulent boundary layers, we perform a wind tunnel experiment in which we measure spatio-temporal characteristics of an experimental surrogate of the power output from a micro wind farm with 100 porous disk models. The experimental results show that the frequency spectrum of the total wind farm power follows a power law with a slope between $-5/3$ and $-2$, and up to lower frequencies than seen for any individual turbine model. In agreement with previous studies in the literature, peaks in the spectrum are observed at frequencies corresponding to the mean flow convection time between consecutive turbines. In the current work we interpret the sum of power extraction from an array of turbines as a discrete spatial filtering of a turbulent boundary layer and derive the associated transfer function. We apply it to an existing model for the wavenumber–frequency spectrum of turbulent boundary layers. This approach allows us to verify the individual roles of Doppler shift and broadening of frequencies on the resulting spatially sampled frequency spectrum. Comparison with the wind tunnel data confirms that the approach captures and explains the main features in the spectrum, indicating the crucial role of the interaction between the spatial sampling and the space–time correlations inherently present in the flow. The frequency spectrum of the aggregated power from a wind farm thus depends on both the spectrum of the incoming turbulence and its modulation by the spatial distribution of turbines in the boundary layer flow.