Author(s): Nicola Spoletini; Paolo Perona

Linked Author(s): Paolo PERONA

Keywords: Bursting; Nonlinear ODE; Synchronisation; Clustering; Near-wall turbulence

Abstract: Burst ejections-sweep cycles in near-wall turbulence export material from the boundary while importing momentum and renewing gradients. Together, they control transport and drive ecological exchanges across interfaces. Starting from a nonlinear differential equation obtained through conditionally averaged experimental data the study proposes a spatial coupling strategy to study the ensemble dynamics of this “integron” model on a linear lattice. By adjusting spatial decay and noise levels, the model could reproduce randomly triggered bursting events that propagate downstream either in synchronous or a-synchronous ways. Depending on parameters, the coupled system may show synchronization, clustering, or incoherence, illustrating how local interactions shape large-scale organization. Overall, the results underscore the value of reduced-order models for probing intermittency, energy transfer, and structure formation in near-wall turbulence. The analysis shows that a phenomenological, low-dimensional model, despite non physically based, can reproduce essential features of the turbulence bursting cycle. Despite its obvious limitations, such a dynamical system may be propaedeutic for better understanding near-boundary ecological process dynamics.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64697/iahr.proc.ise2026.abs.301

Year: 2026