CICLoPE - a response to the need for high Reynolds number experiments

Although the equations governing turbulent flow of fluids are well known, understanding the overwhelming richness of flow phenomena, especially in high Reynolds number turbulent flows, remains one of the grand challenges of physics and engineering. High Reynolds number turbulence is ubiquitous in aerospace engineering, ground transportation systems, flow machinery, energy production (from gas turbines to wind and water turbines), as well as in nature, e.g., various processes occurring in the planetary boundary layer. High Reynolds number turbulence is not easily obtained in the laboratory, since in order to have good spatial resolution for measurements, the size of the facility itself has to be large. In this paper we discuss limitations of various existing facilities and propose a new facility that will allow good spatial resolution even at high Reynolds number. The work is carried out in the framework of CICLoPE, an international collaboration that many in the turbulence community have shown an interest to participate in.