Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2012 / iii / Paper 73 / 2 / iv

Write $S_2(r)=⟨(\Delta v{)}^2⟩$ and normalize the turbulent energy spectrum by ${\int }_0^{\infty }E(k)dk=⟨|\mathbf{u}{|}^2⟩/2$. In isotropic incompressible turbulence the longitudinal velocity correlation isCombining $S_2=2[Q_{LL}(0)-Q_{LL}(r)]$ with $Q_{LL}(0)=2\int Edk/3$ gives the exact spectral filterThe expression has a smooth removable limit at $x=0$. Its asymptotic forms areAn eddy much larger than $r$ contributes nearly the same velocity at the two points and mostly cancels in the increment. An eddy much smaller than $r$ contributes decorrelated velocities and does not cancel. Replacing the smooth transition of $H$ by a step at $kr=\pi$ therefore gives the common estimate $3S_2/4\simeq {\int }_{\pi /r}^{\infty }E(k)dk$. The cutoff corresponds roughly to a half wavelength equal to the point separation; its exact numerical location is conventional.

Keeping the leading nonzero low-wavenumber term gives the improved estimateIt remains imperfect because $kr$ is not small throughout the whole low-wavenumber interval and the exact kernel oscillates above the transition. The data sheet's alternative coefficient $1/{\pi }^2$ is a nearby approximate matching prescription; $1/10$ is the exact Taylor coefficient. Neither piecewise filter is an exact identity.

Higher-order longitudinal structure functions also retain large-scale information. Decompose $\mathbf{u}=\mathbf{U}+{\mathbf{u}}_s$, where $\mathbf{U}$ varies on a length much larger than $r$. Its longitudinal increment is $\Delta U_L\simeq r{\partial }_L{U}_L$, which is small but not zero. Expanding $(\Delta U_L+\Delta u_{s,L}{)}^p$ gives its own moments and mixed moments with the small-scale increment. Rare large gradients or correlated amplitude modulation can matter particularly strongly at large $p$.

Thus a velocity increment is not an exact scale-local bandpass filter. Its moments may retain large-scale strain and forcing information, undermining an unqualified claim of universal small-scale statistics determined by one local parameter. This observation alone does not refute an asymptotic inertial range theory: for a three-dimensional $k^{-5/3}$ spectrum, the low-wavenumber correction is mainly supplied by wavenumbers of order $1/r$, while an isolated integral-scale smooth contribution behaves as $r^2$ and is subleading to $r^{2/3}$. The issue is whether large-scale contamination and mixed moments actually become negligible in the regime and moment order being used.