Lagrangian Fluid Dynamics

This 2006 book provides a detailed and comprehensive analytical development of the Lagrangian formulation of fluid dynamics.

Andrew Bennett (Author)

9780521853101, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 March 2006

310 pages, 20 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.59 kg

...A superb collection of well-written survey materials, covering the state-of-the-art in the theoretical aspects of problems arising in Lagrangian hydrodynamics...On the whole, this is an indispensable and obligatory book for anyone seriously interested in Lagrangian Fluid Dynamics...Also, this book will be of interest to applied mathematicians, particularly those interested in mathematical aspects of environmental fluid dynamics." -Andrzej Icha, Institute of Mathematics, Pomeranian Academy in Slupsk, Poland.

The emergence of observing systems such as acoustically-tracked floats in the deep ocean, and surface drifters navigating by satellite has seen renewed interest in Lagrangian fluid dynamics. Starting from the foundations of elementary kinematics and assuming some familiarity of Eulerian fluid dynamics, this 2006 book reviews the classical and new exact solutions of the Lagrangian framework, and then addresses the general solvability of the resulting general equations of motion. A unified account of turbulent diffusion and dispersion is offered, with applications among others to plankton patchiness in the ocean. Written at graduate level, the book provides the first detailed and comprehensive analytical development of the Lagrangian formulation of fluid dynamics, of interest not only to applied mathematicians but also oceanographers, meteorologists, mechanical engineers, astrophysicists and indeed all investigators of the dynamics of fluids.

Part I. The Lagrangian Formulation: 1. Lagrangian kinematics
2. Lagrangian statistics
3. Lagrangian dynamics
4. Coordinates
5. Real fluids
Part II. Lagrangian Flows: 6. Some analytical Lagrangian solutions
7. Waves, instabilities and vortices
8. Viscous incompressible flow
9. General solvability
Part III. Diffusion: 10. Absolute dispersion
11. Relative dispersion
12. Convective subranges, scalar variance spectrum
13. Diffusion
Part IV. Lagrangian Data: 14. Observing systems
15. Data analysis: the single particle
16. Data analysis: particle clusters
References.

Subject Areas: Fluid mechanics [PHDF], Applied mathematics [PBW]