Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have made a significant breakthrough in understanding turbulent flows by resolving a long-standing paradox in fluid dynamics. On November 5, 2025, they announced their findings in the journal Science Advances, demonstrating that Kolmogorov’s framework for turbulence does apply universally to small-scale turbulent Taylor-Couette (TC) flows, contrary to previous assumptions.
The study, led by Professor Pinaki Chakraborty, addresses a contradiction that has perplexed scientists for decades. While the Kolmogorov framework has been proven to describe energy dispersion in various turbulent flows, it seemed to fail in the context of TC flows, which are simple to create yet display complex behaviors. The OIST team spent nine years developing a sophisticated TC setup capable of producing turbulent flows at Reynolds numbers exceeding 10^6, one of the highest in the world.
Turbulent flows are prevalent in both everyday phenomena and natural disasters, from stirring cream into coffee to the powerful winds of a typhoon. Understanding these flows is crucial for applications ranging from weather forecasting to planetary formation studies. The significance of this research lies in its potential to enhance predictive models across various scientific disciplines.
The TC flows occur between two independently rotating cylinders and lead to the formation of swirling vortices, known as Taylor rolls. These flows have played a vital role in establishing foundational principles in fluid dynamics. In 1941, mathematician Andrey Kolmogorov introduced an idealized energy cascade model that has since been the cornerstone of turbulence theory.
Despite its success, the Kolmogorov framework’s apparent failure to apply to TC flows raised questions among physicists. As Dr. Julio Barros, the study’s first author, explained, the conventional analysis indicated that Kolmogorov’s celebrated -5/3rd law did not fit the TC flows. This prompted the team to explore beyond the inertial range predicted by Kolmogorov and consider the overall domain of small-scale flows, including the smallest eddies that dissipate energy into heat.
By re-evaluating the energy spectra through this broader lens, the researchers uncovered that when dissipative effects were accounted for, the energy spectra aligned with Kolmogorov’s predictions. This finding reestablishes the universality of Kolmogorov’s framework, providing a renewed reference point for studying TC flows and their applications in fluid mechanics.
Professor Chakraborty emphasized the advantages of the OIST-TC setup, stating, “The beauty of TC flow setups is that they are closed systems. No pumps, no obstructions in the flow. We can study the flow of whatever liquid and additive that we desire—sediments, bubbles, polymers, and so forth.”
This significant advancement not only resolves a critical inconsistency within turbulence theory but also paves the way for further exploration of complex flow behaviors. As researchers continue to investigate these intricate systems, the implications of their findings may extend beyond theoretical studies, influencing practical applications in various scientific fields.
The OIST team’s research marks a pivotal moment in fluid dynamics, as they provide a comprehensive understanding of turbulence that may lead to improved models for predicting environmental phenomena and engineering challenges.
For further details, refer to the study published in Science Advances, where the authors explore the intricate relationship between turbulence and fluid mechanics.
