From: s1b3832@rigel.tamu.edu (BAUM, STEVEN K)
Subject: Re: Coherent structures
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Keywords: turbulence
Organization: Texas A&M University, Academic Computing Services
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 14:00:00 GMT

In article <1992Jul28.014855.27248@cc.umontreal.ca>, fearnley@ERE.UMontreal.CA (Fearnley Anne) writes...
>(I am posting this on my wife's account. Send any e-mail to me at
>        TURNER@OSIRIS.PHY.UQAM.CA )
> 
>      I am a Ph.D. student trying to get a grasp of the subject of
>coherent structures in turbulence, particularly in the atmospheric
>surface layer. The articles are all over the place! If anyone can
>give me some references, I will be very grateful. Wouldn't want to
>miss some important 'thread' buried away in the literature.
> 
>     As well, how about some opinions on the subject itself, with
>supporting arguments. Some folks think the coherent structure business
>is rubbish and a craze, and some think its the key to turbulence.
>Any comments?    


         A quick search of my (still under construction after a couple
      of years) file of review papers yields the following articles
      you might want to peruse:

  Campbell, David K.,
  "Nonlinear science:  From paradigms to practicalities,"
  Los Alamos Science, 1987, pp. 218-262.
     1. Introduction
       a. Linear vs. nonlinear
       b. Dynamical systems: from simple to complex
       c. Paradigms of nonlinearity
     2. Coherent structures and solitons
       a. Solitons
       b. Applied solitons
       c. Coherent structures
     3. Deterministic chaos and fractals
       a. The logistic map
       b. The damped, driven pendulum
       c. The Lorenz attractor
       d. Fractals
       e. Practicalities
     4. Complex configurations and patterns
       a. Experiments and numerical simulations
       b. Analytic developments
     5. The future of nonlinear science

  Glimm, James,
  "Nonlinear and stochastic phenomena:  the grand challenge for
     partial differential equations,"
  SIAM Review, Vol. 33, 1991, pp. 626-643.
     1. Introduction
     2. Coherent nonlinear structures
     3. Chaotic solutions of partial differential equations

  Hussain, A. K. M. F.,
  "Coherent structures:  reality and myth,"
  Phys. Fluids, Vol. 26, 1983, pp. 2816-2850.

  Malanotte Rizzoli, P.,
  "Planetary solitary waves in geophysical flows,"
  Adv. in Geophys., Vol. 24, 1982, pp. 147-224.
     1. Introduction:  Why solitary waves may be important in large-scale
          geophysical motions
     2. Solitary waves in one dimension:  a short synopsis
     3. The existing models of large-scale permanent structures
       3.1  A unified approach:  length scales on the order of the
              external deformation radius
       3.2  Length scales smaller than the external deformation radius
     4. Evolution of coherent structures:  the initial value problem
       4.1  The single solitary eddy in the weak- and strong-wave limits
       4.2  Collision experiments
     5. Stability
       5.1  Perturbations in the initial conditions:  numerical experiments
       5.2  Overlapping resonances
     6. Further investigations on coherent structures
       6.1  Numerical accuracy
       6.2  Dissipation
     7. Conclusions

        Also, if I remember correctly, there is a chapter about
      coherent structures by Hussain in the recent book that
      overviews and critiques all the major approaches to
      turbulence entitled _Whither Turbulence?_.  Methinks
      that John Lumley is one of the editors.  Happy trails.

                                                    S. Baum