Disorder and mixing : convection, diffusion and reaction in random materials and processes : [proceedings of the NATO advanced study institute on disorder and mixing, Cargèse, Corsica, France, June 15-27 1987

The structures of physics, in general, are studied by using simplified geometry on objects that are actually irregular and highly complex. The complex morphology and dynamics of many phenomena are lost when this is done. Benoît B. Mandelbrot, author of the preface, has spent 20 years studying the phenomena required to model these structures in all their dimensions. These structures are called fractals, and are characterized by their invariance of scale: each figure is composed of figures which are virtually identical and which are in turn composed of virtually identical figures, and so on indefinitely. Fractals are the result of 70 years of research in many fields; what they reveal has pertinence to physics of materials, mechanics of fluids, functional anatomy, plant morphology, geomorphology, astrophysics, and other disciplines. This book highlights the structures of fractals in related disciplines: turbulence, chaos, fracture, percolation, diffusion fronts, aggregation, phase transitions, particle trajectories. The author describes in detail the dynamic aspects of transport phenomena in the field of fractals. Intended for students of physics and chemistry in their second or third year, this book is also addressed to researchers and engineers interested in the trends of contemporary physics as they relate to real applications. An extensive bibliography directs the reader to additional material on specific topics CARGESE INSTITUfE ON DISORDER AND MIXING Convection, diffusion and reaction are the three basic mechanisms in physico-chemical hydrodynamics and chemical engineering. Both convective and diffusive processes are strongly influenced by the effect of disorder of granular matter in porous media, suspensions, fluidized beds or/and by the randomness caused in turbulent flow field. This book has been initiated by a NATO summer institute held in Cargese (Corsica, FRANCE) from June 15 th to 27 th 1987 . Its aim was to associate statistical physicists, fluid mechanicians and specialists of chemical engineering on the problems of the relation between disorder and mixing and, in this respect, this is a " premiere ". This book is made of chapters based on lectures given in the meeting. However we have paid a considerable attention to harmonize the contents and styles of chapters made by scientists trained in different communities and using different languages and techniques to describe similar problems. The Prelude by the editors of the book introduces the different points and is a biased view of some of the important and most active aspects of the subjects developed. We wish to thank all contributors and students of the institute who gave the style of the present interdisciplinary approach. We also greatly thank Elisabeth Charlaix who has shared with us the scientific and practical organisation of the institute, and Marie-France Hanseler for her technical support Edited By Etienne Guyon, Jean-pierre Nadal, And Yves Pomeau. Proceedings Of The Nato Advanced Study Institute On Disorder And Mixing (1987 : Cargèse, Corsica)--t.p. Verso. Published In Cooperation With Nato Scientific Affairs Division. Includes Bibliographies And Index. Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute, Cargese, Corsica, France, June 15-27, 1987