ABSTRACT
Explanation of turbulent flow structure will advance knowledge in fluid mechanics and assist modelling of geophysical flows. On the understanding that similar turbulent velocity signals over a wide range of scales arise from a similar underlying mechanism over the different scales, a simple eddy model is proposed for self-similar turbulence. It implies that the eddy-induced velocity fluctuations at a point depend only on the strengths of individual, self-similar eddies and the distances of these eddies’ cores from the measurement point. The eddy model is used to generate synthetic turbulence and, with further restraints, predict the vertical profile of downstream velocity. While the generated turbulence displays many of the properties of actual, high Reynold’s number turbulent flows and the model predicts a log law velocity profile, the main purpose of this work is to stimulate further discussion and provide a possible new avenue for the investigation and modelling of turbulent flows.
