Physical Review Fluids

Author(s): Yasushi Mino, Hazuki Tanaka, Koichi Nakaso, Kuniaki Gotoh, and Rei Tatsumi

Numerical simulations of sheared particle suspensions often require large domains to avoid wall effects. We implement Lees–Edwards boundary conditions in particle-resolved Lattice Boltzmann Method–Discrete Element Method (LBM–DEM) simulations to model homogeneous shear flows without physical boundaries. The method enables computationally efficient simulations while resolving particle-scale hydrodynamic interactions. It provides a practical tool for studying suspension rheology quantitatively by capturing how particles interact with the surrounding fluid and with each other across a range of concentrations.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 044901] Published Wed Apr 01, 2026

Author(s): Reza Azadi and David S. Nobes

While drag reduction in fully developed viscoelastic flows is widely studied, the combined influence of polymer additives and strong spatial acceleration remains largely unexplored. This study employs high-resolution velocimetry to examine near-wall turbulence in semidilute polymer solutions subjected to varying favorable pressure gradients. The results demonstrate that the interplay of viscoelasticity and acceleration profoundly suppresses Reynolds shear stresses, driving the boundary layer toward a distinct quasi-relaminarized state dominated by elastic effects.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 034611] Published Tue Mar 31, 2026

Author(s): Saideep Pavuluri, Thomas Daniel Seers, Ali Saeibehrouzi, Ran Holtzman, Soroush Abolfathi, Petr Denissenko, and Harris Sajjad Rabbani

Controlling capillary fingering via patterned porous media (PPM) optimizes industrial processes (e.g., fuel cells). We introduce a 2D Zoned Sequential Deposition method to fabricate PPM with tunable porous media features. Direct numerical simulations across varying capillary numbers and heterogeneity factors show that highly heterogeneous PPM (having larger pore-diameter contrasts between different zones) promotes structured drainage: flow follows underlying porous microstructure, draining through large pores with less than 10% occupancy of finer spaces. This coupling of fabricated morphology and flow behavior provides a framework for designing porous materials with predictable flow patterns.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 034001] Published Thu Mar 26, 2026

Author(s): M. Noseda, B. L. Español, P. D. Mininni, and P. J. Cobelli

Helicity, the volume integral of the velocity-vorticity scalar product, is a key dynamical invariant encoding flow topology; however, measuring it in turbulence is a significant challenge due to the requirement for high-resolution velocity gradients. We introduce chirality tomography, a Lagrangian method that reconstructs three-dimensional helicity maps from the entanglement of particle trajectories. By establishing a robust proxy between trajectory linking and local helicity, we provide the first spatially resolved maps of chiral structures in fully developed turbulence. The approach bridges trajectory-level topology with fundamental physics, with a practical diagnostic for complex flows.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 034609] Published Wed Mar 25, 2026

Author(s): G. A. Gerolymos and I. Vallet

In turbulent flows of dilute gases, the amplitudes and correlations of the turbulent fluctuations of the thermodynamic variables (pressure, density and temperature), satisfy exact nonlinear compatibility relations and inequalities. These define realizability constraints on the thermodynamic turbulence structure, valid from the quasi-incompressible-flow limit to hypersonic Mach numbers. Furthermore, the ratios between fluctuation intensities define the signs of correlations between the thermodynamic fluctuations, and define bivariate mappings of the thermodynamic turbulence structure.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 034610] Published Wed Mar 25, 2026

Author(s): Bapan Mondal, Shubhra Sahu, and Somnath Bhattacharyya

Present continuum based modified electrokinetic model capture the nonclassical pattern of the electric double layer arises in the strong coupling regime i.e., layered structure of ions, counterion saturation, overscreening of surface charge, and reversal in electroosmotic flow. Based on the present modified model we have established qualitative agreement with several experimental observations, which the mean-field based models fails to envisage. The short-range effects on ion transport and their impact on membrane polarization are quantified in this study, which has not been addressed in previous studies. It may provide useful insights on tuning the electroosmosis and particle trapping.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 034202] Published Tue Mar 24, 2026

Author(s): Pritpal Matharu, Bartosz Protas, and Tsuyoshi Yoneda

A key open question in turbulence research concerns the nature of fluid motions that can produce a self-similar energy cascade consistent with Kolmogorov’s statistical theory of turbulence. We approach this problem by considering the one-dimensional viscous Burgers equation as a toy model, and frame the question in terms of a family of partial-differential-equation-constrained optimization problems which are solved numerically. Our results represent a successful effort to construct time-dependent solutions of this model characterized by self-similar energy transfers, providing a framework that may be used to search for self-similar behavior in three-dimensional turbulence.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 034608] Published Mon Mar 23, 2026

Author(s): Yicong Fu, Zhengyang Liu, Samir Tandon, Jake Gelfand, and Sunghwan Jung

Flexible vortex generators enhance heat and mass transport, but most studies focus on solid, non-porous panels or passive flexible reeds. Inspired by porous, compliant fish-gill filaments, we demonstrate the mixing benefit of pitching flexible perforated panels. Pitching drives unsteady entrainment; perforation yields spatially discretized vortices without a conventional leading-edge contribution, while chord-wise flexibility sustains mixing via wake-mode transitions. We examined the Lagrangian coherent structures to link vortex dynamics to convective–diffusive transport, and proposed three indices to quantify mixing by uniformity, mean increase, and spatial dispersion.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 034703] Published Mon Mar 23, 2026

Author(s): A. Roccon, G. Amati, L. Brandt, D. Calhoun, P. Costa, W. Lu, S. Pirozzoli, D. Richter, M. Umair, D. You, T. Zahtila, and C. Marchioli

Resolving turbulent flows pushes both computations and algorithms to their limits. As a result, high-fidelity turbulence simulations increasingly rely on GPU-accelerated solvers that adapt to massive parallelism and memory constraints to overcome the computational limits of CPU-based solvers. This review maps the rapidly expanding ecosystem of GPU-accelerated DNS and LES codes for single- and multiphase turbulence for both compressible and incompressible flow, analyzing algorithmic strategies, porting challenges, and performance bottlenecks. By linking numerical methods to hardware evolution and memory constraints, we outline the path toward efficient, exascale turbulence simulations.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 034905] Published Mon Mar 23, 2026

Author(s): Rahul Chajwa, C. Rajarshi, Rama Govindarajan, and Sriram Ramaswamy

When the worldlines of inertial particles in background flows cross, they generate low-dimensional structures with diverging particle number-density, formally similar to optical caustics. We show that orientable motile particles in flows can form caustics even when their mechanical inertia is neglected. Singular perturbation analysis of self-propelled particles around a point vortex and numerical simulations of their motion in a turbulent flow uncover the various regimes of caustics, demarcating the necessary conditions for their formation. Active caustics greatly enhance encounters between Stokesian swimmers, and an order-of-magnitude estimate points to their ecological relevance.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 033104] Published Fri Mar 20, 2026

Author(s): Zhicheng Kai, Peter Frame, and Aaron Towne

The transient growth of disturbances is typically investigated using the matrix exponential of the linearized Navier-Stokes operator. We introduce a data-driven algorithm that computes optimal initial conditions, response modes, and their associated energy growth directly from snapshots of flow data. Our method simplifies and broadens the application of transient growth analysis, eliminating the need for access to the linearized operator and enabling application to experimental data. We demonstrate the method, including a regularization to mitigate the sensitivity to noise, using a Ginzburg-Landau equation, Poiseuille flow, and a transitional boundary layer.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 034904] Published Fri Mar 20, 2026

Author(s): Hanbing Zou, Xin Jin, Haotian Chen, Wei Wang, Sheng Xu, and Bing Wang

Understanding droplet dynamics under detonation loading is vital for advanced propulsion technologies like rotating detonation engines. This study reveals fundamental differences between detonation and shock wave interactions with water droplets using high-resolution simulations. We demonstrate that the rapid post-wave pressure attenuation in detonations accelerates cavitation collapse and suppresses the Rayleigh-Taylor forward jet typical of shock impacts, leading instead to unique leeward-side flattening.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 034303] Published Wed Mar 18, 2026

Author(s): B. Kaoui, A. Bou Orm, P. Navet, J. Baish, and L. L. Munn

Bicuspid valves with crescent-shaped leaflets in veins and lymphatics ensure unidirectional flow to the heart by preventing reflux. While longer leaflets increase hydrodynamic resistance and excessive stiffness hinders proper valve closure, a key question remains: why is the leaflet crescent-shaped, and to what extent should it be creased to optimize performance? This study isolates geometry by varying only leaflet length under backward flow, revealing a transition from reflux to full blockage. The threshold and, thus, valve competency depend strongly on cusp shape, explaining reflux in short, immature, or abnormal valves.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 033103] Published Tue Mar 17, 2026

Author(s): Maxim Nikitin, Xiyu Xie, Qinrong Yu, and Dmitry Pashchenko

Classical pressure-drop correlations for packed beds often yield inconsistent predictions across different geometric scales and flow rates. By applying a residual-driven sensitivity analysis to an extensive experimental dataset, this work reveals that while geometric wall effects initially dominate prediction errors, the superficial velocity overwhelmingly dictates residual behavior once these are minimized. This finding indicates that future model improvements should prioritize flow-regime-dependent corrections over further geometric refinement.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 034302] Published Tue Mar 17, 2026

Author(s): Sagar Chaudhary, Dimitrios Fraggedakis, and Charles M. Schroeder

Capillary suspensions are defined by liquid-bound particle clusters, yet despite decades of study, their stability in strong flows remains incompletely understood. Here, we establish a universal set of stability criteria for a liquid-bound particle doublet in extensional flow. A critical capillary number governing stability is identified through a combination of analytical theory and experiments. Below this threshold, stability depends sensitively on initial particle separation, whereas above it, clusters are unconditionally unstable. These results provide a quantitative framework for predicting and controlling flow-induced breakup in capillary suspensions.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, L032301] Published Tue Mar 17, 2026

Author(s): Derek Goulet, Anna Pauls, Aaron True, and John Crimaldi

Many animals leverage stereo inhalation for respiration and olfaction, drawing fluid and odors into a spatially separated pair of nares. Olfaction efficacy is known to be enhanced by the structure and dynamics of flow exterior and interior to the nares. We characterized stereo inhalation flow kinematics and capture volumes using numerical models of an idealized, dual siphon geometry, providing further context for sensory adaptations. We find capture volumes that are modulated by Reynolds number and siphon geometry, suggesting that organisms may alter morphology and inhalation dynamics at behavioral or evolutionary timescales to increase fitness.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 033102] Published Mon Mar 16, 2026

Author(s): Marco Cattaneo and Outi Supponen

Acoustic radiation force can be used to steer ultrasound contrast microbubbles toward the desired clinical target, but the link between their oscillations, displacement, and stability has remained unclear. By tracking single lipid-coated microbubbles in free space, we show that their displacement is accurately captured only when history drag is included in the force balance. A simple linear scaling connects volumetric expansion to transport distance. Above a critical radial expansion, however, shape-mode oscillations emerge and dissolution rises sharply, revealing a trade-off between transport efficiency and bubble integrity.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 033606] Published Mon Mar 16, 2026

Author(s): Thomas Appleford, Vatsal Sanjay, and Maziyar Jalaal

This paper addresses the problem of a two-dimensional (2D) droplet under shear. We introduce an analytical approach, utilizing a 2D Lamb solution to derive an expression for the apparent viscosity of a dilute 2D emulsion and to develop a deformation theory for small capillary numbers. Validated through direct numerical simulations, our findings establish benchmarks for computational fluid dynamics methods and for interpreting 2D droplet behavior.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 033607] Published Mon Mar 16, 2026

Author(s): Amlan K. Barua, Shuwang Li, John S. Lowengrub, Wenjun Ying, and Meng Zhao

While classical Hele-Shaw models focus on single interface dynamics, the mechanisms driving instabilities in multi-connected fluid domains remain largely unexplored. We reveal that the spatial configuration and viscosity of internal fluid domains fundamentally break radial symmetry, triggering viscous fingering on the outer boundary. By strategically arranging these inner interfaces under a time dependent injection flux, one can suppress unfavorable instabilities and actively promote preselected, self-similar limiting shapes.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 033902] Published Mon Mar 16, 2026

Author(s): Mario Sánchez Sanz and Antonio L. Sánchez

Classic orifice flow models, originally developed for low-Reynolds-number liquids, use the decoupling between velocity and concentration fields to simplify the analysis. This simplification fails for gaseous mixing, where composition changes directly alter the velocity field. Our study addresses the coupling in the Sc ∼ Pe ∼1 regime typical of gas-delivery systems. We introduce a unified framework that combines new analytical solutions for low Pe with simulations. This approach provides quantitative predictions for mass-transfer rates and pressure drops, and can help design the restrictive orifices critical to semiconductor manufacturing and precision gas-delivery technology.

[Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 034103] Published Mon Mar 16, 2026