The Lagrangian Exploration Module : An Apparatus for the Study of Statistically Homogeneous and Isotropic Turbulence

Robert Zimmermann (1) , Haitao Xu (2) , Yoann Gasteuil (1) , Mickaël Bourgoin (3) , Jean-François Pinton (1) , Romain Volk (1) , Eberhard Bodenschatz (2, 4, 5, 6)

1 Phys-ENS - Laboratoire de Physique de l'ENS Lyon
2 MPIDS - Max-Planck-Institut für Dynamik und Selbstorganisation
3 LEGI - Laboratoire des Écoulements Géophysiques et Industriels [Grenoble]
4 Institut für Nonlineare Dynamik
5 LASSP - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics [Ithaca]
6 MAE - Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

We present an apparatus that generates statistically homogeneous and isotropic turbulence with a mean flow that is less than 10% of the fluctuating velocity in a volume of the size of the integral length scale. The apparatus is shaped as an icosahedron where at each of the 12 vertices the flow is driven by independently controlled propellers. By adjusting the driving of the different propellers the isotropy and homogeneity of the flow can be tuned, while keeping the mean flow weak.

Domaines: Mécanique des fluides [physics.class-ph]; Mécanique des fluides [physics.class-ph]

Robert Zimmermann, Haitao Xu, Yoann Gasteuil, Mickaël Bourgoin, Jean-François Pinton, et al.. The Lagrangian Exploration Module : An Apparatus for the Study of Statistically Homogeneous and Isotropic Turbulence. Review of Scientific Instruments, 2010, 81, pp.55112. ⟨10.1063/1.3428738⟩. ⟨hal-00941492⟩