arXiv subjects

M. Vucelja

Publications and source records attributed to M. Vucelja.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2007

Inertial particles driven by a telegraph noise

We present a model for the Lagrangian dynamics of inertial particles in a compressible flow, where fluid velocity gradients are modelled by a telegraph noise. The model allows for an analytic investigation of the role of time correlation of the flow in the aggregation-disorder transition of inertial particle. The dependence on Stokes and Kubo numbers of the Lyapunov exponent of particle trajectories reveals the presence of a region in parameter space (St, Ku) where the leading Lyapunov exponent changes sign, thus signaling the transition. The asymptotics of short and long-correlated flows are discussed, as well as the fluid-tracer limit.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2007

Weak compressibility of surface wave turbulence

We study the growth of small-scale inhomogeneities of the density of particles floating in weakly nonlinear, small-amplitude, surface waves. Despite the amplitude smallness, the accumulated effect of the long-time evolution may produce strongly inhomogeneous distribution of the floaters: density fluctuations grow exponentially with a small but finite exponent. We show that the exponent is of sixth or higher order in wave amplitude. As a result, the inhomogeneities do not form within typical time-scales of the natural environment. We conclude that turbulence of surface waves is weakly compressible and alone it cannot be a realistic mechanism of the clustering of matter on liquid surfaces.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2006

Clustering of matter in waves and currents

The growth rate of small-scale density inhomogeneities (the entropy production rate) is given by the sum of the Lyapunov exponents in a random flow. We derive an analytic formula for the rate in a flow of weakly interacting waves and show that in most cases it is zero up to the fourth order in the wave amplitude. We then derive an analytic formula for the rate in a flow of potential waves and solenoidal currents. Estimates of the rate and the fractal dimension of the density distribution show that the interplay between waves and currents is a realistic mechanism for providing patchiness of pollutant distribution on the ocean surface.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2004

Rain initiation time in turbulent warm clouds

We present a mean-field model that describes droplet growth due to condensation and collisions and droplet loss due to fallout. The model allows for an effective numerical simulation. We study how the rain initiation time depends on different parameters. We also present a simple model that allows one to estimate the rain initiation time for turbulent clouds with an inhomogeneous concentration of cloud condensation nuclei. In particular, we show that over-seeding even a part of a cloud by small hygroscopic nuclei one can substantially delay the onset of precipitation.

physics.ao-ph↗