By Lynn Yarris
Planes do not always stay aloft. Engines have been known to fail. The search for what went wrong has not always yielded answers. An explanation that may solve some of these mysteries has been brought forward by a Berkeley Lab mathematician and a Cambridge collaborator.
The "Law of the Wall," an equation that for the past 60 years has served as a basis for the design of aircraft, engines, wind tunnels, compressors, even the space shuttle and many other devices subjected to the stresses of turbulence can produce substantially erroneous predictions.
This is the assertion of Alexandre Chorin and Grigory Barenblatt. Chorin holds a joint appointment with Berkeley Lab and the UC Berkeley Math Department. Barenblatt is a professor of fluid mechanics at Cambridge University, who was visiting at UCB's Miller Institute for Basic Research.
Since 1938, the Law of the Wall has been the standard equation presented in aerodynamics and engineering textbooks for calculating the forces exerted on a solid object or "wall" by turbulence. This equation has been so thoroughly accepted as correct that when data from wind tunnel experiments did not agree with the law's predictions, researchers sought ways to correct their experimental methods, such as polishing the walls of their wind tunnels.
However, according to the calculations of Chorin and Barenblatt, under the high-speed turbulent conditions that commonly occur in many industrial situations as well in aerodynamics, it is the Law of the Wall that breaks down. In some cases, the forces exerted by turbulence can be as much as 65 percent greater than what the law predicts.
"The Law of the Wall was viewed as one of the few certainties in the difficult field of turbulence, and now it has been dethroned," Chorin said. "Generations of engineers who learned the law will have to abandon it. Many textbooks will have to be revised."
Test results from the latest and most accurate wind tunnel experiments support the theoretical work of Chorin and Barenblatt. Chorin said a key to their theoretical breakthrough was to ask the right question for experimental data to answer so that the Law of the Wall could be checked.
"For years, people have looked at turbulent flow without understanding what they saw," he said. "The theory we developed led to predictions of a beautiful and complex structure in turbulence near walls that could be seen in the experimental data."
In mathematical terms, Chorin and Barenblatt say the correct descriptions of the effects of turbulence on solid objects require a family of "scaling laws" rather than a single "Law of the Wall." They offer such a family and explain the failure of the Law of the Wall in an upcoming Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
CAPTION: Alexandre Chorin (left) and Grigory Barenblatt have challenged the standard law of turbulence.
By Ron Kolb
Calling research supported by the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Research "the highest quality" and "a major investment in the country's economic future," Berkeley Lab Director Charles Shank urged members of Congress Wednesday to support the President's energy research budget request for fiscal 1997.
Shank testified before the House Science Committee's Energy and Environment Subcommittee, along with the DOE's Martha Krebs and other national laboratory directors. Budget hearings are reviewing the DOE's proposed $16.3 billion request, which includes $2.54 billion in energy research.
In his written remarks, Shank focused on three specific areas which he said are "critically important" to Berkeley Lab--the Scientific Facilities Initiative; the Mathematics, Information and Computational Sciences program; and the Human Genome Program.
Noting that the FY97 request for user facility support is slightly less than that provided in 1996, he encouraged the committee to support the initiative and, if possible, provide additional funds necessary to operate the facilities at current levels. He pointed to the Advanced Light Source (ALS), the National Center for Electron Microscopy (NCEM), and the 88-Inch Cyclotron as successful beneficiaries of the national facilities commitment.
"At the ALS, the initiative has meant an increase of 78 percent in scheduled user time, from 9 to 16 eight-hour shifts per week," he told the committee. "The ALS has also expanded its level of user support by doubling, from 7 to 14, the number of user program staff."
Shank said the initiative will allow steady progress toward a fully-instrumented facility with the construction of three new beamlines, two dedicated to research on magnetic materials and biological functions, and a third using infrared spectroscopy to explore regions in which organic materials exhibit unique adsorption signatures.
At NCEM, the initiative has enabled the addition of two new positions "to provide access to the facility for scientists who are not expert microscopists," he said. "These scientists collaborate with a number of external users to apply state-of-the-art expertise and instrumentation to significant materials problems."
He also credited initiative funds for supporting a major refurbishment of the 1.5 MeV high voltage electron microscope which, when completed, will provide about 30 percent more operating time to its users. Similarly, the initiative will mean an increase of 18 percent in operating hours for the 88-Inch Cyclotron this year.
Shank expressed his support for advanced mathematical and computational research, citing Berkeley Lab's new National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) as key to the development of future generations of scientific computing hardware and software. NERSC is the largest unclassified scientific computing resource on the West Coast, he told them, serving more than 4,500 researchers from across the nation.
That reach will be expanded dramatically by "DOE 2000," a FY97 proposal that seeks to develop a common technology base that will allow scientists to access and use unique facilities like the ALS through the Internet. The effort, a joint Energy Research-Defense Programs plan, "will revolutionize the ability of the scientific community to achieve the maximum value from these user facilities," Shank said in urging support for DOE 2000.
He also praised the FY97 request for a $7.9 million increase for high-throughput sequencing of human DNA. Calling the DOE's Human Genome Project "perhaps the most important scientific enterprise in the history of the life sciences," he cited the request as a first step in aggressively moving to complete the human genetic map.
Shank noted the dramatic research progress in making gene sequencing both cheaper and faster. He told the subcommittee that Berkeley Lab has just completed innovative sequencing for a milestone of five million base pairs, placing it second in the world in total pairs sequenced. Technical innovations have reduced the costs to fifty cents per pair sequenced, "one of the most cost-effective efforts in the world," he said.
The Director also pointed out the 40,000-square-foot laboratory building to be completed at the end of 1997 to bring together elements of the multidisciplinary genome program, and he acknowledged the major grant from the National Institutes of Health, which will allow Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley to collaborate on the genetic sequence of the fruit fly, which is the standard model for genetic studies.
Shank prefaced his remarks with a review of Berkeley Lab's history and mission. In particular, he emphasized the University of California's management, which has encouraged academic interactions unique in the DOE system. "This level of university involvement has provided a high level of quality scientific performance and leadership that should be a model for future federal laboratory operations," he said.
Lowell High School shines in the Science Bowl
Lowell won the regional Science Bowl crown at Berkeley Lab in February. The team will take an educational trip to Sandia and Los Alamos national labs this summer for its second-place finish in the national competition.
Lowell's only defeat came against Venice High School of Venice, Calif. Venice team members requested a visit to Berkeley Lab as their prize.
Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary handed out the trophies at the event. Martha Krebs, director of DOE's Office of Energy Research, also attended finals and congratulated winning teams.
According to Berkeley Lab's Eileen Engel, who ran the regional competition in February, Lab employees deserve a lot of credit for helping the students prepare, making sure they knew the correct answers to questions they missed at the regional meet. The students themselves spent every Friday afternoon for months drilling for the competition.
The last big winner from this area was Albany High School, which won the regional bowl and national title in 1993.
Kokoro Taiko--Traditional Japanese drumming
Friday, May 17 -- noon,
cafeteria lawn
Kokoro Taiko is a San Francisco-based traditional Japanese drumming group formed in 1989 by the husband and wife team of Melody Takata and Ian Hadley. Their goal is to preserve the true Matsuri (festival) style of Japanese drumming, and to integrate Taiko drumming with modern American music. The duo have performed throughout the United States and Japan, at such events as the Rose Bowl Parade, the Disneyland Parade, and the New Year's Festival in Tokyo. Takata is a prodigy of one of Tokyo's most traditional and highly respected taiko groups (Sukeroku Taiko), and one of the few Americans ever to undergo their rigorous training. Hadley's specialty is the O-daiko (great drum), which is considered the most primal and fundamental form of Japanese drumming.
Talk by author
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Thursday, May 30 -- noon, Bldg. 50 auditorium
Noted writer Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, author of "Arranged Marriage," will discuss her book, which--published in July 1995--has won the Bay Area Book Reviewers Award and the PEN Oakland Award for best fiction 1995. Divakaruni, who was born in India and spent her first 19 years there, received her doctorate degree from UC Berkeley, and now teaches creative writing at Foothill College. She is an author several times over, and the recipient of many writing prizes and awards. She is interested in issues involving women, and has worked with Afgani women refugees, and others. She is president of MAITRI, a non-profit South Asian women's service that helps victims of domestic violence.
Participants will learn how to:
The cost of the class is $200, which includes a daily planner. The cost will be recharged to the participant's respective division. Class capacity is 20 and participants will be enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested, please contact the EDT Unit at X5999 (fax X4072) and give your name, employee ID number, and account number to be recharged. The enrollment deadline is Friday, May 24.
AFRD Director Bill Barletta joins other Lab researchers who have recently been elected Fellows of the American Physical Society. At the society's annual meeting last week, Barletta was formally inducted "for his contributions to the combination of plasma devices and electron beams, free electron lasers, and conventional accelerators, as well as to the wise direction of beam physics programs during the last decade." AFRD's Swapan Chattopadhyay, whose election was announced in the Jan. 27 Currents, was also inducted at the meeting for his contributions in the field of physics.
EAST BAY ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE TO HOST STANFORD M.D.:
Frances Conley, M.D., of Stanford University will speak at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, at the next meeting of the East Bay Association for Women in Science. She will present "Ruminations of an Academic Maverick" at Bayer Corp., 800 Dwight Way. A light meal will be provided at 6:30 p.m. Please try to arrive before 6:30 p.m. to avoid delays when signing in. For more information, contact Emma Yee at 705-5051. Berkeley Lab employees are invited to join the Association. Annual dues are $15 ($10 for students).
SEND US YOUR NEWS:
Please send news about recent awards, appointments, accomplishments, and other items of interest to [email protected], or fax to X6641.
Phase II of the drill includes activation of the Lab's Emergency Command Center and includes participation of emergency response groups only. Questions should be directed to Don Bell X6016 or Mark Turner X6554.
BODYWORKS
General meeting at noon in the lower cafeteria
THEORETICAL PHYSICS SEMINAR
"The Strong Coupling Polaron: A Problem in Field Theory and Condensed Matter Physics" will be presented by Elliot Lieb of Princeton University at 2:30 p.m. in Bldg. 50A-5132.
EMPLOYEE MUSIC CLUB
Classical Group Rehearsal, 5-7 p.m. in the cafeteria; for information contact Wesley Steele at X7893.
STRING THEORY SEMINAR
"Macroscopic and Microscopic Entropy of Black Holes" will be presented by David Lowe of UCSB at 2:10 p.m. in 430 Birge Hall.
LIFE SCIENCES DIVISION SEMINAR
"Apolipoprotein E and Atherosclerosis" will be presented by Linda Curtiss of the Research Institute Scripps Clinic at 4 p.m. in Bldg. 66-316.
EH&S CLASSES
Introduction to EH&S at LBNL (EHS 010), 9-11:30 a.m., Bldg. 51-201
Laser Safety (EHS 280), 1-3:30 p.m., Bldg. 51-201
EAST BAY ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE
"Ruminations of an Academic Maverick" will be presented by Frances Conley, MD, of Stanford at 7 p.m. The meeting takes place at Bayer Corp., 6th and Dwight in Berkeley. There is a light meal provided at 6:30 p.m. Call Emma Yee at 705-5051 for more information.
EMPLOYEE MUSIC CLUB
Folk Group Rehearsal, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria; for information contact Larry Bell at X5406.
BUILDING ENERGY SEMINAR
"Measuring Energy Use of Office Equipment: PC's, Monitors and Copiers" will be presented by Bruce Nordman of LBNL at noon in Bldg. 90-3148.
CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY SEMINAR
"Assessment of Chemical and Physical Toxicants Using the Induction of DNA Damage-Inducible Genes" will be presented by Neil Johnson of the Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute at noon in 338 Koshland Hall.
SURFACE SCIENCE AND CATALYSIS SCIENCE SEMINAR
"Zeolite Synthesis by Design: An Intractable Problem?" will be presented by Mark Davis of CalTech at 1:30 p.m. in the Bldg. 66 Auditorium.
EMPLOYEE MUSIC CLUB
Rock Group Rehearsal, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria; for information contact Steve Blair at X5927.
OPEN CALENDAR
SHOEMOBILE
7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., near Bldg. 77
EMPLOYEE MUSIC CLUB
Classical Group Rehearsal, 5-7 p.m. in the cafeteria; for information contact Wesley Steele at X7893.
EH&S CLASS
Adult CPR (EHS 123), 9 a.m.-noon, Bldg. 48-109
STRING THEORY SEMINAR
Miao Li of Brown University will speak at 2:10 p.m. in 430 Birge Hall, title to be announced.
EH&S CLASS
Radiation Protection - Sealed Radioactive Sources (EHS 438), 10-11 a.m., Bldg. 48-109
TOASTMASTERS'
General meeting at 12:10 p.m. in Bldg. 2-100, nominations for new officers.
EMPLOYEE MUSIC CLUB
Folk Group Rehearsal, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria; for information contact Larry Bell at X5406.
EH&S CLASSES
Radiation Protection - Fundamentals (EHS 400), 9 a.m.-noon, Bldg. 48-109
Radiation Protection - Lab Safety (EHS 432), 2-4:30 p.m., Bldg. 48-109
BUILDING ENERGY SEMINAR
"Update of Recycling at the Lab: Both Coming and Going" will be presented by Shelley Worsham of LBNL at noon in Bldg. 90-3148.
SURFACE SCIENCE AND CATALYSIS SCIENCE SEMINAR
"Ultraviolet Raman Spectroscopy of Solids" will be presented by Peter Stair of Northwestern University at 1:30 p.m. in the Bldg. 66 Auditorium.
EMPLOYEE MUSIC CLUB
Rock Group Rehearsal, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria; for information contact Steve Blair at X5927.
CENTER FOR BEAM PHYSICS SEMINAR
"Operation of the ALS at Small Momentum Compaction" will be presented by David Robin of LBNL at 10:30 a.m. in the Building 71 Conference Room.
The campus bus service, while not as frequent, offers a much more economical alternative than the Lab bus service. It also extends over more hours than the Lab service could provide.
During a six-to-eight week transition, the yellow flag shuttle, which now runs every 15 minutes, will run at 1/2-hour intervals. The campus bus will run on a 1/2-hour schedule interleaved with the shuttle, in effect, maintaining the 15-minute schedule. The service will run from 7:45 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. The date for shifting completely to campus service has not been set, but will probably occur mid- to late-June.
Berkeley Lab riders will need to show their Lab ID cards to the driver to get a no-fare ride. Employees will be entitled to transportation to LHS if needed. Like the Lab service, campus buses are equipped with bike racks.
Contact Fred Lothrop (X7726) or Tammy Brown (X4165) for more information. Brown will be holding meetings at Bldg. 62 on the subject in the near future (watch for flyers).
'81 VOLVO 244DL, 216K mi., very well maintained, reliable, $1500. Mari, X5932
'84 SAAB 900 S, 170K mi., 5-spd manual, hatchbk, sunrf, pwr windows, '96 reg. paid, $1900/b.o. Detlef, X7369, 843-6273 (eve.)
'85 COLT VISTA wgn, a/t, a/c, asking $1850. Everett, X7783, 528-0465
'85 SAAB 900, 4-dr, 106K mi., exc. cond., 5-spd, CD, new tires, $4K. Pat, 874-7877 (day), 568-6386 (eve.)
'87 NISSAN Sentra, 169K mi., 5-spd., gd cond., reliable, $1K. Klaus, X7779, 540-1206 (eve.)
'88 MAZDA 323i, gray, 2-dr, 4-spd, 165K mi., exc. cond. (no rust, no dents), reliable, $1400/b.o. Gilles, X4555, 486-2652 (eve.)
AUTO RAMPS, $10; pr. jack stands, $10. Bob or Kathleen, 523-5455 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.)
BOX SPRING & MATTRESS, twin sz., nr new; SVGA 15" monitor (PC) & card; wooden desk (not roll-top), suitable for computer, prefer dimensions 30" X 60", in gd cond. David, X7074, 528-1935 (eve.)
SOCCER PLAYERS for LBNL team to play in corporate league June-Sept., semi-competitive, 2 defenders, 2 midfielders, 1 forward needed. Peter, X4157
DINING RM SET, oak, 6 chairs, material-covered seats, 6' long + 18" leaf, exc. cond., $300. Jeanne, X5909
GOLF CLUBS, set of "Sting", used twice, irons are 2 thru sand wedge, 3 metal woods, swing weight D-1, stiff shafts, standard grips, cost $650 new, sell for $450 firm. Kathy, 837-7062 (eve.)
MOVING SALE, antique roll-top desk, $1500; oak entertainment center, 6'X5'X17"D, $100; storage closets (4), w/shelves, 5' tall, $50 ea.; free-standing wooden closet rack w/wheels, $50; Pfaff sewing machine, $25. Bob or Kathleen, 523-5455 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.)
REFRIGERATOR, Kenmore, $400; washer & dryer, $400/pr., like new, Kenmore, must sell. Ron, 222-7691
TELEPHONE, analog answering machine, $20; stereo $40, together $50. Detlef, X7369, 843-6273 (eve.)
WASHER & DRYER, Admiral Designer, heavy duty, 20# cap., 2-spd washer, gas dryer w/full features, 2 yr. old, exc. cond., $500/set; aquariums, 50 gal. & 30 gal., $40/both. Terry, X7439
WATER FILTERS, NSA, sink models 50C & 100S. Marek, X5029, 582-5867
YARD SALE, multi-family, Sat., 5/18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 2325 McKinley (& Channing) below Martin Luther King Jr. Way
BERKELEY, Northside, Rose & Walnut, short term, furn. 1 & 2-bdrm apts, incl. local phone, utils., linen & weekly cleaning, 4 blks from UCB/LBNL shuttle, $975-$1200/mo. Viki, 549-1876
BERKELEY, brand new, 1 lg. bdrm & 1 bth in 2-bdrm, 2-bth apts, part furn., wash/dryer, microwave, walk to LBNL/UCB, nr shopping & trans., no smoking, no pets, avail. 6/1, $500/mo. + utils., dep., mo. by mo. X6736, 841-2140
BERKELEY, nr Oxford/Cedar, furn. 1 & 2 bdrms apts, summer rentals, $775-$1100/mo. 524-8122
BERKELEY, 3-bdrm, 2-bth upper unit of 6 yr. old duplex, nr downtown, refrig., dishwasher, washer/dryer, Jacuzzi bth, deck, 2 frpls, w-w carpets, 1 yr. lease, avail. 6/1, $1700/mo. David, 525-4470
NO. BERKELEY, partly furn., sunny rm in 2-bdrm apt, 1 blk to UCB/LBNL shuttle, laundry, patio, nr BART, shopping, post office & gourmet ghetto, prefer non-smoking female grad student or visiting scholar, avail. 6/1-8/31, $375/mo. X6762, 486-0772
NO. BERKELEY, summer sublet, sunny, studio apt, garden, w/d, avail. late May - beginning of Aug., $600/mo. 524-0496
CANYON, handcrafted artists' home, 1 lg. bdrm, 2nd sleeping area, + 2 bdrm, 1 bth in adjacent cabin, all appliances, redwood setting nr exc. K-8 pub. sch., 20 min. from LBNL, avail. 6 mo. starting 6/1, $1500/mo. 376-3543
CASTRO VALLEY, 2 bdrms avail. in home, 1 w/pvt. bth, laundry & kitchen privs., short/long term, rent negot. Marek, X5029, 582-5867
EMERYVILLE, Emerybay, bdrm in 3-bdrm, 2-bth apt, frpl, swimming pool, spas, fitness center, garage, completely gated, shuttle to BART, prefer female/non-smoker, $425/mo. 841-5109
KENSINGTON, sublet, mid-June to mid-July, lg. room in shared graduate student household, overlooking Wildcat Cyn, frpl, decks, laundry, dishwasher, lg. kitchen, plenty of parking, nr the #7 bus line, $300/mo. Christine, X4635, 559-8330
KENSINGTON, glass house w/views, verdant setting, share w/professional woman & exuberant Labrador, pvt. courtyd, entrance, bth & lg. bdrm, workshop space avail., off-st. parking, $500/mo.+1/2 of utils. 528-3575
KENSINGTON, 3-bdrm, 1-1/2 bth house, GG view, deck, lg. yd, 20 min. by bike, avail. 5/29 till 7/10 (all or part), $1200/mo. 524-1641, [email protected].
KENSINGTON, furn., lg. bdrm in 4-bdrm house, share w/3 other students/postdocs, bay view, shopping, bus stop, parking, washer/dryer, nr Tilden Park, $425/mo. 528-6953
LAFAYETTE, for Aug., furn. 3-bdrm, 2-bth apt, on cul-de-sac, pool, nr BART, no smoking, no pets, $700. Kathleen, X6356
OAKLAND HILLS, recently built 3-bdrm, 2.5 bth house, bay views, master bedroom suite, lg. living rm w/frpl, family rm, kitchen w/hardwd flrs, deck, laundry, 2-car garage, 15 min. drive from UCB/LBNL, $1795/mo. 482-4252
NO. OAKLAND/BERKELEY, 2-bdrm, 1-bth craftsman-style home, ofc., hardwd flrs, formal dining & living, garden, garage, washer & dryer, walk to UCB, trans. & College Ave., avail. 5/15, $1350/mo. 658-0586
ORINDA, furn. sm. 3-bdrm house, 1-1/2 bth, lg. garden, 3 blks from BART, 12-15 min. from LBNL, $1400/mo. Scott, (916) 894-5519, (916) 898-5747
WANTED: 2-bdrm apt/house for 2 UCB students, prefer Berkeley, No. Oakland, El Cerrito, Albany or No. Oakland, $750 or less/mo. Margaret, X4503, 540-5730
WANTED: 1+ or 2-bdrm apt/house for LBNL visiting scientist, prefer No. Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito or other area nr BART, starting anytime btw 6/1 & 7/15 until the end of Aug. X4664, 528-9588
WANTED: house/apt, 2/3 bedrooms, June to Aug., for visiting German scientist & quiet family (2 daughters 17 & 19), non-smokers, prefer walking distance to UCB or nr public trans. Ernst, [email protected]
WANTED: nice 1 or 2 bdrm house by prof. couple for long-term rental, prefer bay view or nice neighbor-hood. X4978, (415) 592-4791
WANTED: housing for 2 students from Germany, 8/11-10/27, $800/mo. max. Lucy, 549-9381, [email protected]
WANTED: housing for English profs for July and/or Aug., perhaps trade Manhattan, upper west side, brownstone co-op, a/c. Jeff, (212) 724-1221, (212) 874-6717 (FAX)
WANTED: housing from 6/16 thru 8/15, non-smoker, enjoy taking care of plants, cats & other living creatures. Gertraude, (808) 395-0825, [email protected]
WANTED: house for visiting French scientist w/3 children, 6/20 thru Aug., animals welcome, could exchange 4-bdrm, 2-bth apt & car (Volvo 740) in cent. Paris. 33 1 43389440 (msg.), [email protected]
WANTED: 1-bdrm apt for 1 mo. starting 8/17, sublet or rent, prefer nr UCB. Luanne, X5853
SO. LAKE TAHOE, Tahoe Keys, 3-bdrm, 2.5-bth house, W/D, upstairs living, water & mountains views. Bob, 376-2211