Potentially singular behavior of 3D incompressible Navier-Stokes equations

Abstract

Whether the 3D incompressible Navier-Stokes equations can develop a finite time singularity from smooth initial data is one of the most challenging problems in nonlinear PDEs. In this talk, I will present some new numerical evidence that the 3D Navier-Stokes equations develop nearly self-similar singular scaling properties with maximum vorticity increased by a factor of $10^7$. This potentially singular behavior is induced by a potential finite time singularity of the 3D Euler equations. Unlike the Hou-Luo blowup scenario, the potential singularity of the 3D Euler and Navier-Stokes equations occurs at the origin. We have applied several blowup criteria to study the potentially singular behavior of the Navier-Stokes equations. The Beale-Kato-Majda blow-up criterion, the blowup criteria based on the growth of enstrophy and negative pressure, the Ladyzhenskaya-Prodi-Serrin regularity criteria all seem to imply that the Navier-Stokes equations develop nearly singular behavior. Finally, we present some new numerical evidence that a class of generalized axisymmetric Navier-Stokes equations with time dependent fractional dimension and nonlinear rotation force seem to develop asymptotically self-similar blowup.