Viscosity renormalization based on direct-interaction closure

Approximations in statistical turbulence theory often rely on modelling the decay in time of velocity correlations with a simple exponential decay. The decay rate is viewed as a renormalized viscosity. The three simplest implementations of this approximation scheme were originally given independently by Kraichnan, Edwards and Leslie. Each of these investigators used a different formalism and each achieved different renormalization prescriptions. These three different results are reexamined here entirely in terms of direct-interaction theory. The difference in the prescriptions of Kraichnan and Leslie is shown to be the product of different definitions of renormalized viscosity. Edwards’ prescription is shown to result from an inconsistent identification of the non-stationary energy-spectrum relaxation rate with the viscosity. An assessment of the validity of the Markovian closure approximation, and a prescription for non-stationary renormalized viscosity are provided.