Meecham and his co-workers have developed a theory of turbulence involving a truncated Wiener–Hermite expansion of the velocity field. The randomness is taken up by a white-noise function associated, in the original version of the theory, with the initial state of the flow. The mechanical problem then reduces to a set of coupled integro-differential equations for deterministic kernels. We have solved numerically an analogous set for Burgers's model equation and have computed, for the sake of comparison, actual random solutions of the Burgers equation. We find that the theory based on the first two terms of the Wiener–Hermite expansion predicts an insufficient rate of energy decay for Reynolds numbers larger than two, because the equations for the kernels contain no convolution integrals in wave-number space and therefore permit no cascade of energy. An energy cascade in wave-number space corresponds to a cascade up through successive terms of the Wiener-Hermite expansion. Pictures of the Gaussian and non-Gaussian components of an actual solution of the Burgers equation show directly that only higher-order terms in the Wiener–Hermite expansion are capable of representing shocks, which dissipate the energy. Higher-order terms would be needed even for a nearly Gaussian field of evolving three-dimensional turbulence. ‘Gaussianity’, in the experimentalist's sense, has no bearing on the rate of convergence of a Wiener–Hermite expansion whose white-noise function is associated with the initial state. Such an expansion would converge only if the velocity field and its initial state were joint-normally distributed. The question whether a time-varying white-noise function can speed the convergence is treated in the paper following this one.

Derivatives of velocity signals obtained in a turbulent boundary layer are examined for correspondence to the lognormal distribution. It is found that there is rough agreement but that unlikely events at high values are much less common in the observed fields than would be inferred from the lognormal distribution. The actual distributions correspond more to those obtained from a random walk with a limited number of steps, so the difference between these distributions and the lognormal may be related to the fact that the Reynolds number is finite.

The third-order structure function is examined, and found to be roughly consistent with the existence of an inertial subrange of a Kolmogoroff equilibrium reacute;gime over a range of scale which is a priori reasonable but which is far less extensive than the $-\frac{5}{3}$ region of the spectrum.

Conditions for two gas bubbles in a liquid to rise steadily in a vertical line are derived theoretically with these assumptions: large Reynolds number, no surface contamination, spherical shape, negligible gas density and viscosity. Drag coefficients are found, and are lower than for single bubbles. The bubbles have equilibrium distances apart, which are calculated to a first approximation. The equilibrium is shown to be stable to small vertical disturbances but unstable to horizontal ones. Similar results exist for lines of more than two bubbles, but are not calculated in detail.

The instability of a plane layer of non-conducting fluid which is in hydrostatic equilibrium between two semi-infinite conducting fluids with surface charges is discussed for both inviscid and viscous fluid models. It is shown that for both the inviscid and viscous fluid cases, the criteria for instability are the same. Consideration is given to the relevance of the results in explaining the mechanism by which the presence of an electric field promotes more readily the coalescence of water droplets on a water surface by viewing the onset of disruption of the air film as the instability of the air film under the action of the electrostatic field produced by the surface charges on the water surfaces.

Derivatives of velocity and temperature in the wind over the ocean were found to be quite variable. Probability distribution functions of squared derivatives were consistent with lognormality predictions by Kolmogoroff, Obukhoff and Yaglom. Kurtosis values for velocity derivatives ranged from 13 to 26 and from 26 to 43 for temperature derivatives. Universal inertial subrange constants were evaluated from dissipation spectra and were found to be 40 to 300% larger than most values reported previously. Evidence for local anisotropy of the temperature field is provided by non-zero values of the measured derivative skewness.

The flow of an inviscid incompressible fluid, with imbedded identical spherical particles, around an arbitrary corner is treated by the method of small perturbations. Application is made to convex flows only and the approximate effects of separation are also considered. The assumption of arbitrary initial particle density k0 leads to a complex system of equations, which appears to have no simple solution in general, and is not considered. For small k0 the particle density distribution is governed by a first-order partial differential equation which, when solved by the method of characteristics, yields ordinary differential equations, whose solutions are simple and analytic for unseparated flow and numerical only when separation is considered. In the former flow, spiral type curves partially encircling the plate tip, and then trailing downstream, delineate the particle-free zones, and it is found that the particle density increases monotonically in the downstream direction on all particle streamlines. In the separated flow, the most noteworthy effect is the disappearance of the infinite velocity at the origin and the consequent considerable reduction in the magnitude of the perturbation.

A cylindrical tank, full of fluid, is oscillating with frequency ω and rotating with angular velocity Ω about its axis of symmetry. It is assumed that the amplitude of oscillation, δ, is small and the viscosity is low such that boundary layers exist. Analysis shows that the unsteady boundary layer is of thickness [ε/(1 − 2Ω/ω)]½ on the top and bottom plates and of thickness ε½ on the side walls, where ε = ν/2ω. The interior unsteady flow shows source-like behaviour at the corners. The steady flow field is caused by the steady component of the non-linear centrifugal forces coupled with an induced steady rotation of the interior. This rotation, of order δ2ω, is prograde when Ω/ω < 0·118 and retrograde otherwise. Maximum retrograde rotation occurs at Ω/ω = 0·5. A steady boundary layer of thickness [ε/(1 − 2Ω/ω)]½ exists on the top and bottom plates, and of thicknesses \[ \epsilon^{\frac{1}{2}},\quad (\nu/L^2\Omega)^{\frac{1}{3}},\quad (\nu/L^2\Omega)^{\frac{1}{4}} \] on the side walls. Experimental measurements of the interior induced steady rotation compare well with theory.

Wiener proposed that the turbulent velocity be expanded in Hermite functionals of a Gaussian white noise random function advected by the fluid. This paper describes the mechanics of converting his suggestion into a computable model, and assesses its range of validity as an approximation for incompressible, homogeneous, and isotropic turbulence. The terms retained are a linear term, v1, representing an arbitrary Gaussian velocity, and a quadratic term, v2, representing a non-Gaussian contribution to the velocity needed for energy transfer. The requirement that advection by the dependent velocity v = v1 + v2 does not alter the statistics of the base necessitates a further truncation of the base to antisymmetric quadratic basis elements. Realizability of any statistics of v is common to all Wiener–Hermite expansions. The projected equations for the Lagrangian expansion conserve energy by non-linear interaction, preserve the inviscid Gaussian equipartition ensemble, and are invariant to random Galilean transformations. Numerical calculations with an approximate form of these equations reveal that irreversible relaxation to the inviscid equipartition solution is not a property of the Lagrangian model, and that the rapid convergence advanced as the original motivation for studying Wiener–Hermite expansions does not survive closure by truncation. The dynamics of the model is not inconsistent with the existence of an inertial range. A simple numerical search routine failed to produce a solution corresponding to such an equilibrium ensemble.

Three-point odd-order correlations and four-point even-order correlations of the longitudinal velocity fluctuations in grid-generated turbulence have been measured using linearized hot-wire anemometry, digital sampling, and a high-speed digital computer. The measured correlations are compared with relations between higher-order correlations corresponding to non-Gaussian Gram-Charlier joint probability densities for three and four variables. The fourth-order, three-point Gram-Charlier distribution accurately describes the relation between measured odd-order three-point correlations. The measured fourth-order even-order correlations may be accurately predicted from the two-point correlation using Millionshtchikov's joint-Gaussian hypothesis, except for small values of the separations. The disagreement at small separations cannot be reduced through use of the Gram-Charlier approximation.

In an attempt to explain the failure of the various pure homogeneous strain experiments to reach equilibrium (and consequently to support the contention of Townsend of an equilibrium structure of the Reynolds stress dependent only on geometry), the nature of the general Reynolds stress-mean velocity relation is examined. It is shown that if homogeneous flows become asymptotically independent of initial conditions, and if the Reynolds stress bearing structure can be characterized by a single time scale (i.e.–at sufficiently high Reynolds number) then these flows behave like classical non-linear viscoelastic media, with the Reynolds stress structure dependent on the (strain-rate) (time scale) product. Thus, the existence of an equilibrium structure implies the existence of an equilibrium time scale and a universal value of the product. The ideas permitting Reynolds stress and mean velocity to be related are applied to the dissipative structure in homogeneous flows, and it is found that in such flow the time scale never ceases to grow, so that these flows can never reach an equilibrium structure. With the aid of an ad-hoc assumption these flows are examined in some detail, and the results of experiments are predicted with considerable accuracy. It is suggested that (inhomogeneous) flows having an equilibrium time scale may, in the homogeneous limit, be expected to display a universal structure. The small departure from universality induced by the large eddies associated with inhomogeneity may be adequately predicted by this same ad-hoc model.

The method of matched asymptotic expansions is applied to the problem of a wing of finite span in very close proximity to the ground. The general lifting surface problem is shown to be a direct problem, represented by a source-sink distribution on the upper surface of the wing and wake, with concentrated sources around the leading and side edges plus a separate confined channel flow region under the wing and wake. The two-dimensional flat plate airfoil is examined in detail and results for upper and lower surface pressure distribution and lift coefficient are compared with a numerical solution. A simple analytic solution is obtained for a flat wing with a straight trailing edge which has minimum induced drag. To lowest order, this optimally loaded wing has an elliptical planform and a lift distribution which is linear along the chord, resulting in a parabolic spanwise lift distribution. An expression for the lift coefficient at small clearance and angle of attack, valid for moderate aspect ratio, is derived. The analytic results show reasonable agreement when compared with numerical results from lifting surface theory.

We apply the Cameron—Martin—Wiener (formerly ‘Wiener—Hermite’) expansion of a random velocity field to the analytical study of turbulence. The kernels of this expansion contain all statistical information about the ensemble. Complete expressions are derived for constructing statistical quantities in terms of the kernels, and for the equations of motion of the kernels. We rigorously prove the Gaussian trend of the velocity field of the Navier—Stokes equation in the very late stage when the non-linear term is neglected. The n-dependence (n is the order of derivative) of the flatness factor, minus three for derivatives of the velocity field, shows a rapid increase with n in this stage.

The late decay problem of the Burgers model of turbulence is studied analytically with a view to obtaining suggestive guidelines for fitting the non-linear aspects of the model turbulence. We can divide the energy spectrum density into two parts, the larger of which is a kind of steady solution, which we call the ‘equilibrium state’, which remains self-similar in time in terms of an appropriate variable. The deviation from this ‘equilibrium solution’ satisfies the Kármán—Howarth equation. As initial velocity field, we take two particular cases: (a) a pure Gaussian, and (b) a non-Gaussian velocity field. With these two cases a detailed spectral analysis has been obtained. The energy spectrum deviation from ‘equilibrium’ declines exponentially to zero for all wave-numbers. The Gaussian case shows that the flatness factor minus three increases rapidly with n, while the non-Gaussian case does not show any marked dependence on n.

The hydrodynamic force experienced by a small solid sphere of radius ap resting on a solid plane wall in axisymmetric stagnation flow, ${\bf v}_{\infty} = \Omega(- z^2{\bf i}_z + z\tilde{\omega}{\bf i}_{\tilde{\omega}})$, or in planar stagnation flow, v∞ = Ω(−z2iz + 2zxix), is computed on the basis of Stokes’ creeping flow equations. In both cases, as well as for any flow whose z component of velocity is −Ωz2, this force is found to be Fz = − 60·87μΩap3, where μ is the viscosity of the fluid. The uniform flow parallel to the line of centres of two touching spheres of arbitrary radii is also solved.

We discuss some consequences of assuming that two different non-linear model equations, and real turbulence are nearly Gaussian. It is supposed when necessary that the process is driven and it is supposed that the processes have become statistically stationary. These problems are discussed from the viewpoint of the Wiener–Hermite expansion for non-linear, nearly Gaussian processes. Expected equilibria forms are related to corresponding expressions obtained from the zero-fourth-cumulant assumption. The spectrum for Burgers’ model and for incompressible fluid flow problems is found from this viewpoint to be E ∼ k−2. The kinematical properties leading to such spectra are discussed. It is noted, as has been remarked earlier, that this spectrum is characteristic of flows with near discontinuities. A conjecture is offered concerning how these discontinuities are related to Gaussianity.

Experiments have been performed to explore the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of thermals which ascend through the fluid environment above a heated horizontal surface. With water as the participating fluid, an electrochemical technique was employed which made the flow field visible and facilitated the direct observation of thermals. Measurements were also made of the fluid temperature above an active site of thermal generation.

As seen in flow field photographs, a thermal has a mushroom-like appearance, with a blunted nearly hemispherical cap. At a given heating rate, thermals are generated at fixed sites which are spaced more or less regularly along the span of the heated surface. At these sites, the generation of thermals is periodic in time, thereby validating a prediction of Howard. Both the spatial frequency of the sites and the rate of thermal production increase with increases in heating rate. The break-up Rayleigh number of the conduction layer is shown to be a constant (within the uncertainties of the experiment), which is in accord with Howard's phenomenological model.

The effect of turbulence on a magnetic field whose length-scale L is initially large compared with the scale l of the turbulence is considered. There are no external sources for the field, and in the absence of turbulence it decays by ohmic dissipation. It is assumed that the magnetic Reynolds number Rm = u0l/λ (where u0 is the root-mean-square velocity and λ the magnetic diffusivity) is small. It is shown that to lowest order in the small quantities l/L and Rm, isotropic turbulence has no effect on the large-scale field; but that turbulence that lacks reflexional symmetry is capable of amplifying Fourier components of the field on length scales of order Rm−2l and greater. In the case of turbulence whose statistical properties are invariant under rotation of the axes of reference, but not under reflexions in a point, it is shown that the magnetic energy density of a magnetic field which is initially a homogeneous random function of position with a particularly simple spectrum ultimately increases as t−½exp (α2t/2λ3) where α(= O(u02l)) is a certain linear functional of the spectrum tensor of the turbulence. An analogous result is obtained for an initially localized field.

Interactions of suitable pairs of gravity waves in a shear flow are found to give rise to aperiodic or weakly periodic secondary motions. These secondary flows resemble the ‘Langmuir vortices’ which are associated with the formation of windrows. It seems likely that such wave interactions will play a substantial part in determining the quasi-steady structure of the flow when wind blows over a water surface.

Theoretical solutions exist for the flow about aerofoils in various modes of unsteady motion. This is also true for aerofoils whose lift is augmented by a jet flap. A common feature of these theories is the assumption of small amplitude displacements from the mean path and the generation of a continuous vortex sheet wake. However, in practice when the motion is oscillatory and of finite amplitude, an alternating trail of individual vortices is often found. The present visual investigation includes the measurement of some vortex street parameters associated with heaving aerofoils. The results are compared with those of conventional thin aerofoil theory in order to assess the significance of this departure from the conventional small displacement flow model.

A method is described for constructing approximations, to statistical functions, that are uniformly convergent in time, starting with the expansion of the functions as Taylor series in time. The principal tool is a technique for expanding the Fourier transform of the unknown function by use of a set of orthonormal functions. Application to the Lagrangian velocity correlation and the eddy diffusivity for marked particles in a three-dimensional random velocity field yields results that agree excellently with computer simulations. The approximation procedure is extended to expansions in strength parameters (e.g. Reynolds number expansion) and to an expansion about the direct-interaction approximation. The latter is based on a new model representation of the direct-interaction approximation. An implication of the work is that the usual diagram expansions, obtained through term-by-term averaging over a Gaussian distribution, may not uniquely determine the functions they represent; it may be that truly meaningful expansions are possible, in general, only for distributions which bound the amplitudes in the individual realizations.

The three-dimensional, primitive equations of motion have been integrated numerically in time for the case of turbulent, plane Poiseuille flow at very large Reynolds numbers. A total of 6720 uniform grid intervals were used, with sub-grid scale effects simulated with eddy coefficients proportional to the local velocity deformation. The agreement of calculated statistics against those measured by Laufer ranges from good to marginal. The eddy shapes are examined, and only the u-component, longitudinal eddies are found to be elongated in the downstream direction. However, the lateral v eddies have distinct downstream tilts. The turbulence energy balance is examined, including the separate effects of vertical diffusion of pressure and local kinetic energy.

It is concluded that the numerical approach to the problem of turbulence at large Reynolds numbers is already profitable, with increased accuracy to be expected with modest increase of numerical resolution.