A structural model for the vortex tubes of isotropic turbulence

A class of exact solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations is introduced to model the fine-scale, tubular structures of isotropic turbulence. The model vortices exhibit slow algebraic fall-off of the induced velocity, and accurately reproduce the velocity signatures observed in DNS and experiments. The proposed model has interesting implications for the theoretical analysis of turbulence, supporting the view that the inertial range energy scaling may have a link with the near-singular velocity field induced by vortex tubes produced by the roll-up of vortex sheets.