DROP BREAKUP AND INTERMITTENT TURBULENCE

Recent studies on the fine structure of turbulent flow are applied to drop breakup in the inertial sub-range. A multifractal method describes intermittency and the distribution of velocity fluctuations etc. For a given drop size and a given time-averaged energy dissipation rate, a wide range of stresses acts to cause breakup. These stresses and their relative frequencies are calculated. The most likely exponent on the Weber Number is close to 4.6. Smaller values (possibly as low as -0.93) arise from rare, but violent intermittent turbulence. Such low exponents are likely after long agitation times and for small tanks.