Average turbulence dynamics from a one-parameter kinetic theory: Estimation of the relaxation time

Abstract

We provide a theoretical estimation of the relaxation time for the kinetic theoretical representation of homogeneous, isotropic, and stationary turbulent flow. The basic approach depends on the construction of a balance of fluctuation and dissipation between the relaxation process and the self-consistently generated fluctuating force. The kinetic theory representation generalizes the modeling of turbulence so that turbulent viscosity as well as all higher order transport coefficients are determined by the relaxation time. The resulting value of the relaxation time gives an estimation of the turbulent viscosity with the coefficient value comparable with those from most of the representative turbulence models, which have been obtained empirically or semi-empirically.