Recent Articles

Infiltration and transport dynamics in air curtains

Tanmay Agrawal, Vamsi Krishna Chalamalla, and Narsing Kumar Jha

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 084504 (2026) - Published 17 August, 2026

Air curtains restrict buoyancy-driven exchange through building doorways, but sealing effectiveness saturates near about 80 to 85% and the transport pathways fluid takes to leak through have remained unclear. We combine large-eddy simulation with Lagrangian particle tracking to follow individual fluid parcels, classifying their trajectories into three pathways: a gravity current active only before the curtain establishes, and two turbulent-entrainment routes that dominate afterward. Once the curtain is established, the residual leakage is shown to be governed by entrainment at the jet interface rather than by buoyancy.

Total enthalpy transformation in compressible turbulence recovering the incompressible law of the wall

Xianliang Chen, Zhiye Zhao, Jianping Gan, and Lin Fu

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 084608 (2026) - Published 17 August, 2026

The velocity law of the wall is a well-known law for wall turbulence. In compressible turbulence, the temperature law of the wall is also of interest, but its overall accuracy is inferior to its velocity counterpart. We propose to construct the compressible law of the wall for heat energy using total enthalpy. A semilocal total enthalpy transformation of no fitted parameters is constructed for channel flows, which is structurally analogous and comparable in accuracy to the Trettel–Larsson velocity transformation. This new transformation can potentially serve as a wall model for energy equations to accurately predict the enthalpy or temperature in compressible turbulence.

Mixing by offshore wind infrastructure: Resolving the density stratified wakes past vertical cylinders

Charlie J. Lloyd and Robert M. Dorrell

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 084802 (2026) - Published 17 August, 2026

The offshore wind industry is expanding in deep, seasonally stratified waters, where infrastructure-induced mixing may alter ocean dynamics and ecosystems. We present the first fully structure-resolved direct numerical simulations of stratified flow past a vertical cylinder as an idealized model for flow interactions with offshore wind foundations. We identify two distinct wake regimes: a weakly stratified regime characterized by a narrow turbulent wake, and a strongly stratified regime characterized by thermocline-spanning recirculation cells and stationary internal waves, providing a new mechanism for far-field energy transport and a possible explanation for wake persistence discrepancies.

Nonlinear mode coupling and excitation in nonaxisymmetric droplet shape oscillations

Schahin Akbari, Mostafa Noori, Yongqi Wang, and Martin Oberlack

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 083602 (2026) - Published 14 August, 2026

This study investigates nonaxisymmetric shape oscillations of an inviscid droplet. A highly accurate Galerkin framework is extended to fully three-dimensional droplet oscillations, and modal coupling is examined for different initial configurations, beginning with four nonaxisymmetric initial shapes (see Figure). The results show that the droplet keeps the symmetries of its initial shape and velocity throughout the oscillation. Only those modes that exhibit all symmetries of the initial configuration are excited. Conversely, modes which violate the symmetries are not excited.

Impact of boundary conditions on onset and symmetry of precession-driven dynamos

Victor Botez, André Giesecke, Caroline Nore, Loïc Cappanera, and Frank Stefani

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 083701 (2026) - Published 14 August, 2026

In preparation for the DRESDYN precession dynamo experiment, we numerically investigate how wall material properties impact the growth of magnetic modes driven by a precessing flow. We identify two oscillating magnetic modes - dipolar and quadrupolar – whose competition explains the drastic changes in dynamo thresholds for different types of boundaries. For given hydrodynamic parameters, these modes are paramount for a comprehensive understanding of all electromagnetic configurations, including the realistic modeling of the upcoming first liquid sodium campaign.

Solutocapillary instability in slipping falling films

Sanghasri Mukhopadhyay, Séverine Millet, Bastien Di Pierro, and Asim Mukhopadhyay

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 084004 (2026) - Published 14 August, 2026

Gravity-driven thin films laden with soluble surfactants play a central role in coating technologies and microfluidic systems, where reduced-order models are widely used to predict interfacial dynamics. Some weighted-residual formulations, however, introduce spurious interfacial mass growth, violating total surfactant conservation. We resolve this inconsistency by developing a conservative weighted-residual model that consistently couples wall slip, adsorption-desorption, and the Marangoni effect while rigorously preserving total surfactant mass. The resulting framework provides physically consistent predictions of instability onset, nonlinear wave dynamics, and surfactant transport.

Evolution of capillary-gravity waves under the action of wind and dissipation

Wenhao Cheng and Zeng Liu

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 084801 (2026) - Published 14 August, 2026

Wind-driven wave evolution is commonly viewed as a two-stage process: initial wave growth followed by frequency downshift. Here, we reveal a previously unrecognized intermediate stage in the evolution of capillary–gravity waves under wind forcing and dissipation. This stage is characterized by coupled three- and four-wave near-resonant interactions that generate new wave components, broaden the spectrum, and may reduce total wave energy. These findings constitute a major step forward in understanding the evolution of wind waves from small ripples (2.5 cm) to larger-scale waves.

Numerical simulations and universal saturation profiles for viscous fingering patterns in Hele-Shaw flow

Írio M. Coutinho, Liam C. Morrow, and Scott W. McCue

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 084003 (2026) - Published 13 August, 2026

Interfacial Hele-Shaw flows often involve fingering instabilities, tip-splitting phenomena and striking pattern formations. This study revisits a simplified model that characterizes the complexity of these fingering patterns and identifies some universal features. We test this model using fully nonlinear numerical simulations and find that it is very effective at predicting near-universal properties of the fingering patterns for one-phase flows with a sufficiently small surface tension parameter. For larger values of this parameter and for two-phase flows, there are discrepancies between the model and our observations, which we explain by studying the morphology of the advancing fingers.

Intrusive particle-laden flows with implications to marine carbon dioxide removal

Haowei Qiu, Adam Jiankang Yang, and Baafour Nyantekyi-Kwakye

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 084503 (2026) - Published 13 August, 2026

Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) is a promising marine carbon dioxide removal strategy involving the release of alkaline particles into the ocean. However, its effectiveness depends on how these particles disperse. This study uses high-resolution simulations to show that collective convective instabilities, rather than individual Stokes settling, fundamentally govern particle settling. These instabilities can accelerate vertical particle transport by up to two orders of magnitude, significantly limiting horizontal spread and surface residence time. These fundamental fluid-dynamic constraints provide essential guidance for optimizing future OAE deployments.

Information-theoretic characterization of turbulence intermittency

Shreyashri Sarkar and Rishita Das

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 084605 (2026) - Published 13 August, 2026

Small-scale intermittency is conventionally modeled by power laws of higher-order moments, which include both kinematic and turbulence-driven effects. By using Kullback-Leibler divergence relative to a Gaussian random field, we isolate purely turbulence-induced intermittency, which scales logarithmically with the Taylor Reynolds number. This reveals an emergent symmetry between the turbulence intermittency of dissipation rate and enstrophy, showing that enstrophy appears more intermittent for purely kinematic reasons. The work establishes an information-theoretic framework for characterizing the intermittency and uncertainty of small-scale turbulence.

Flow organization in unstably stratified mixed convection at Ri=1 for heavy liquid metals

Xingguang Zhou, Dalin Zhang, Xinyu Li, Wentao Ma, Hongxing Yu, Wenxi Tian, Suizheng Qiu, and Guanghui Su

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 084606 (2026) - Published 13 August, 2026

Mixed convection for heavy liquid metals is still terra incognita in many aspects, because of the complex flow mechanism, strong thermal diffusivity, and optical opacity. Understanding the flow organization is key to turbulence research and practical engineering. We use high-fidelity scale-resolving numerical simulations to explore the unique large-scale longitudinal roller structures in mixed convection, while also considering the low Prandtl number effect of heavy liquid metals. A new physical interpretation for the slope modulation phenomenon of the mean velocity profile is established, which is expected to give new insights into wall function modeling in mixed convection.

Generative reconstruction of spatiotemporal Wall-pressure in turbulent boundary layers via patchwise latent diffusion

Xiantao Fan, Meet Hemant Parikh, Yi Liu, Xin-Yang Liu, Junyi Guo, Meng Wang, and Jian-Xun Wang

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 084607 (2026) - Published 13 August, 2026

Most studies of turbulent wall pressure reduce its dynamics to wavenumber-frequency spectral descriptions, leaving the instantaneous, spatially evolving pressure field largely inaccessible to experiments and prohibitively expensive simulations. We introduce a probabilistic generative approach that reconstructs full spatiotemporal wall-pressure fields from sparse surface measurements and a low-cost mean-pressure descriptor. Combining patchwise neural representations with latent diffusion, the model adapts to unseen sensor layouts and pressure-gradient regimes without retraining. It recovers coherent structures, temporal evolution, and key turbulence statistics.

Collision of inwardly propagating axisymmetric gravity currents

Albert Dai and Yu-Lin Huang

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 083801 (2026) - Published 12 August, 2026

When gravity currents converge inward, such as sea breezes closing in around an island or lake, their collision unfolds very differently from the situation when two gravity currents meet head-on. Using high-resolution three-dimensional simulations, this study reveals, for the first time, how such collisions generate turbulence: vorticity arises primarily through tilting of azimuthal vorticity rather than through the stretching mechanism as seen in planar collisions. The resulting eddy diffusivity data support existing mesoscale-model parameterizations used to represent gravity current collision events in atmospheric and oceanic models.

Energetics of pilot-wave hydrodynamics: Nonresonant effects

Tino Damiani, Matthew Durey, Bauyrzhan K. Primkulov, and John W. M. Bush

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 084002 (2026) - Published 12 August, 2026

A millimetric droplet may walk across the surface of a vibrating liquid bath, self-propelled by its own wave field. This pilot-wave hydrodynamic system has provided the basis for the field of hydrodynamic quantum analogs, the goal of which is to redefine the boundaries between classical and quantum systems. We here deepen our understanding of pilot-wave hydrodynamics through consideration of its energetics, evaluation of the partitioning between droplet and wave energies. Photo credit: Pedro Nachbin.

Experimental analysis of double-diffusive and diffusive-layer-convection onset times and mixing velocities scalings

D. M. Escala, I. Castaldi, and A. De Wit

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 084502 (2026) - Published 11 August, 2026

Previous theoretical works showed that, in double-diffusion regimes, the onset time and mixing velocity of convective fingers are controlled by a dynamic density jump across stratified layers. Here, we experimentally validate these scalings by analyzing differential diffusion-induced convection in horizontal stratifications within a Hele-Shaw cell. Using a wide range of solute combinations and concentrations, we vary the two key parameters of the problem: the diffusion coefficient and buoyancy ratios. We show that, in both double-diffusive and diffusive-layer-convection regimes, convective dynamics are governed by dynamically generated local adverse density jumps.

Multi-branch shell models of two-dimensional turbulence exhibit dual energy-enstrophy cascades

Flavio Tuteri, Sergio Chibbaro, and Alexandros Alexakis

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 084604 (2026) - Published 11 August, 2026

Classical shell models of turbulence fail to reproduce the dual energy–enstrophy cascade of two-dimensional flows because they predict the wrong equilibrium spectra. Introducing a hierarchical spatial organization across scales restores the correct equilibrium scaling and leads to a statistically stationary dual cascade. The resulting model consistently captures both the equilibrium properties and the nonequilibrium cascade dynamics of two-dimensional turbulence.

Edge-stabilized rotating flames in a circular Hele-Shaw cell

Xiangyu Nie and Shengkai Wang

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 083201 (2026) - Published 10 August, 2026

We report direct experimental observations of self-sustaining CH4–air flames rotating along the edge of an unheated circular Hele-Shaw cell, extending beyond previous studies in which such flames were observed only under external heating. Formed under fuel-rich conditions, these flames exhibit stable traveling-wave behavior, with edge velocities exceeding nominal laminar flame speeds and a structure comprising both premixed and diffusion branches. The rotation arises from a balance between local flame speed, flow, and wall heat loss. Parametric studies have identified regimes of single and multiple rotating waves, as well as transitions to ring flames or extinction under extreme conditions.

Interaction of a coherent vortex with plane Couette flow in three-dimensional Yukawa liquids: Formation of turbulent spots

Suruj Kalita and Rajaraman Ganesh

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 083301 (2026) - Published 10 August, 2026

We investigate subcritical turbulence in plane Couette flow using a finite-amplitude columnar vortex instead of the conventional Lundbladh-type perturbation. We show that, although the perturbation modifies the turbulent structure, the key characteristics of subcritical turbulence remain unchanged. The figure illustrates the breakdown of the columnar vortex into tripolar and quadrupolar structures in unstratified and stably stratified flows. The columnar vortex breakup provides a new mechanism for streamwise streak formation.

Effect of finite extensibility on the hoop-stress instability in viscoelastic Taylor-Couette flow

Pratyush Kumar Mohanty, P. S. D. Surya Phani Tej, Gade Sanjana, and V. Shankar

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 083302 (2026) - Published 10 August, 2026

We revisit the classical hoop-stress mode (HSM) instability in viscoelastic Taylor-Couette flow using the FENE-P model. We show how finite polymer extensibility modifies the onset of the hoop-stress mode for a range of gap width ratios. By systematically comparing linear stability predictions with experiments and direct numerical simulations, we identify where the model succeeds and where its limitations emerge and what are the possible reasons for the discrepancies. We also compare our linear stability results with an augmented Pakdel–McKinley criterion that incorporates finite extensibility and finite gap effects.

Two- and three-dimensional stability of an inlet-modulated radial swirling source flow between parallel annular plates

Meng Fan, Antoine Dazin, Gérard Bois, and Francesco Romanò

Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 083902 (2026) - Published 10 August, 2026

Low-flow-rate instabilities in vaneless diffusers remain a long-standing challenge in turbomachinery, with the roles of core-flow dynamics and boundary layers still debated. Using a hierarchy of linear stability analysis and two- and three-dimensional URANS simulations, we identify two distinct instability mechanisms and trace them back to their physical origins. The low-flow-rate instability is shown to arise from a two-dimensional inviscid core-flow mechanism, while a new instability, associated with inlet modulation and three-dimensional flow features, is reported at high flow rates.

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