The evolution of an initially circular vortex near an escarpment. Part I: analytical results

The motion of a quasigeostrophic, equivalent-barotropic, initially circular vortex patch near an infinitely long topographic escarpment is studied using f-plane dynamics. There are two time scales in the problem: the advective time scale associated with the vortex, and the time scale for topographic vortex stretching. Analytical progress is possible when these two time scales are well-separated and results are presented here.If topographic vortex stretching dominates advection by the vortex the vortex is said to be ‘weak’. The vortex patch remains circular on the topographic time scale, and dispersive topographic waves rapidly propagate the initial disturbance away from the vicinity of the vortex. Subsequently cross-isobath motion is inhibited, and the vortex moves as though the escarpment were a plane wall. The same behaviour was observed for the motion of a weak singular vortex near an escarpment by Dunn, McDonald and Johnson [7], who named the phenomenon the ‘pseudoimage’ of the vortex.If advection dominates over topographic effects, the vortex is said to be ‘intense’. The vortex also remains circular to leading order, but the relative vorticity produced by the swirl of the vortex is less able to escape the vicinity of the vortex. The vortex follows a similar curved trajectory to those observed for intense vortices on the β-plane. The dipolar mechanism for this behaviour is described. Large time solutions are inhibited by the form of the escarpment topography, but examination of the equations leads to the conclusion that the leading order solution may be predict the motion for times beyond its formal range of validity.     

Chaotic advection and nonlinear resonances in an oceanic flow above submerged obstacle

The effect of an isolated submarine obstacle on the motion of fluid particles in a periodic external flow is studied within the framework of the barotropic, quasi-geostrophic approximation on f-plane. The concept of background currents advanced by Kozlov [1995. Background currents in geophysical hydrodynamics. Izvestia, Atmos. Oceanic Phys. 31 (2), 245-250] is used to construct a dynamically consistent stream function satisfying the potential vorticity conservation law. It is shown that a system of two topographic vortices revolving about a rotation center can form in a circular external flow. Unsteady periodic perturbations, associated with either variations in the background current or deviations of the external flow from circulation, are analyzed. Unsteadiness in the external flow essentially complicates the pattern of the motion of fluid particles. Vortex-type quasi-periodic structures, identified with nonlinear resonances that form in Lagrangian equations of fluid particle advection, are examined. They either surround the stationary configuration by a vortex chain—a ringlet-like structure [Kennelly, M.A., Evans, R.H., Joyce, T.M., 1985. Small-scale cyclones on the periphery of Gulf Stream warm-core rings. J. Geophys. Res. 90(5), 8845-8857], or they form a complex-structure multivortex domain. Asymptotic estimates and numerical modeling are used to study the distribution and widths of the nonlinear resonance domains that appear under unsteady perturbations of different types. The onset of chaotic regimes owing to the overlapping of nonlinear resonance domains is analyzed. Transport fluxes determined by chaotic advection and barriers for transport (KAM-tori) and the conditions of their existence are studied. The relation of the rotation frequency of fluid particles on their initial position (when the dependence is calculated in the undisturbed system) is shown to completely determine the main features of the pattern of Lagrangian trajectories and chaotization effects. Because of nonlinear effects, the domain involved in quasi-periodic and chaotic motions can be much larger than the domain occupied by steady topographic vortices. The results of study by Sokolovskiy et al. [1988. On the influence of an isolated submerged obstacle on a barotropic tidal flow. Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dyn. 88(1), 1-30] concerning the due regard on the irrotational background component as the necessary factor for the transportation of fluid particles from the vortex domain to infinity are confirmed.     

On relative equilibria and integrable dynamics of point vortices in periodic domains

The motion of two point vortices defines an integrable Hamiltonian dynamical system in either singly or doubly periodic domains. The motion of three point vortices in these domains is also integrable when the net circulation is zero. The relative vortex motion in both domains can be reduced to advection of a passive particle by fixed vortices in an equivalent Hamiltonian system. A survey of the solutions for vortex motion in these systems is discussed. Some initial conditions lead to relative equilibria, or vortex configurations that move without change of shape or size. These configurations can be determined as stagnation points in the reduced problem or through explicit solution of the governing equations. These periodic point-vortex systems present a rich collection of interesting solutions despite the few degrees of freedom, and several questions on this subject remain open.     

Vortex pairing in an axisymmetric jet using two-frequency acoustic forcing at low to moderate strouhal numbers

 Hot-wire measurement and multi-smoke wire flow visualization method are employed to study vortex pairing in the jet column mode under two-frequency forcing with controlled initial phase differences. For the range of 0.3<St _D <0.6, vortex pairing can be easily controlled by means of the fundamental and its subharmonic forcing with varying initial phase differences. As stable vortex pairing dominates, the variation of the subharmonic component with the initial phase difference changes from a sine shape to a cusp-like shape. The harmonics of the subharmonic also show similar trends. The detuning induces the amplitude and phase modulations of the u-signal in the time trace and the sideband growth in the spectra. The u-signal reflects the subharmonic variation with the initial phase difference in its envelope. For 0.6<St _D <0.9, non-pairing advection of vortices due to improper phase difference is sometimes observed under single-frequency forcing. In this case, vortex pairing can be made to occur by the addition of a subharmonic with very small amplitude. As the initial level of this subharmonic is increased, the onset position of vortex pairing moves upstream. In this range, the initial phase difference is not an effective parameter in controlling vortex pairing. Received: 22 May 1997 / Accepted: 16 October 1997     

Flow structure in a flat vortex chamber

We investigate a flow in a flat vortex chamber in which the distance between the end walls is smaller than the radius of the chamber. The study was mainly performed by optical methods: a Töpler device was employed, with the Foucault knife replaced by a diaphragm. It is shown that the flow in the chamber has a complicated spatial structure. In addition to the basic helical flow, an intense “transverse” rotation of the type of Taylor-Görtler vortices occurs. In contrast to previously studied flows, where these vortices were observed near a concave surface, in the motion considered transverse vortices occur in the entire working volume of the chamber. In this case, four parallel vortex filaments are formed. The high intensity of the vortices has allowed one to visualize them by the Töpler method and by “tinting” the flow by highly disperse particles. Quantitative dependences of the dimensions of the vortex cells on the flow regime, i.e., on the pressure of gas deceleration, were obtained.     

Asymmetric vortex shedding flow past an inclined flat plate at high incidence

This paper reports an experimental investigation of the vortex shedding wake behind a long flat plate inclined at a small angle of attack to a main flow stream. Detailed velocity fields are obtained with particle-image velocimetry (PIV) at successive phases in a vortex shedding cycle at three angles of attack, α=20°, 25° and 30°, at a Reynolds number Re≈5,300. Coherent patterns and dynamics of the vortices in the wake are revealed by the phase-averaged PIV vectors and derived turbulent properties. A vortex street pattern comprising a train of leading edge vortices alternating with a train of trailing edge vortices is found in the wake. The trailing edge vortex is shed directly from the sharp trailing edge while there are evidences that the formation and shedding of the leading edge vortex involve a more complicated mechanism. The leading edge vortex seems to be shed into the wake from an axial location near the trailing edge. After shedding, the vortices are convected downstream in the wake with a convection speed roughly equal to 0.8 the free-stream velocity. On reaching the same axial location, the trailing edge vortex, as compared to the leading edge vortex, is found to possess a higher peak vorticity level at its centre and induce more intense fluid circulation and Reynolds stresses production around it. It is found that the results at the three angles of attack can be collapsed into similar trends by using the projected plate width as the characteristic length of the flow.     

Hopf-flip bifurcation of high dimensional maps and application to vibro-impact systems

This paper addresses the problem of Hopf-flip bifurcation of high dimensional maps. Using the center manifold theorem, we obtain a three dimensional reduced map through the projection technique. The reduced map is further transformed into its normal form whose coefficients are determined by that of the original system. The dynamics of the map near the Hopf-flip bifurcation point is approximated by a so called ‘‘time-2τ² map’’ of a planar autonomous differential equation. It is shown that high dimensional maps may result in cycles of period two, tori T¹ (Hopf invariant circles), tori 2T¹ and tori 2T² depending both on how the critical eigenvalues pass the unit circle and on the signs of resonant terms’ coefficients. A two-degree-of-freedom vibro-impact system is given as an example to show how the procedure of this paper works. It reveals that through Hopf-flip bifurcations, periodic motions may lead directly to different types of motion, such as subharmonic motions, quasi-periodic motions, motions on high dimensional tori and even to chaotic motions depending both on change in direction of the parameter vector and on the nonlinear terms of the first three orders.The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10472096)The English text was polished by Ron Marshall.     

Quantization and Motion Law for Ginzburg–Landau Vortices

We study the vortex trajectories for the two-dimensional complex parabolic Ginzburg–Landau equation without a well-preparedness assumption. We prove that the trajectory set is rectifiable, and satisfies a weak motion law. In the case of degree  ±  1 vortices, the motion law is satisfied in the classical sense. Moreover, dissipation occurs only at a finite number of times. Away from these times, possible collisions and splittings of vortices are constrained by algebraic equations involving their topological degrees. Quantization properties of the energy and potential densities play a central role in the proofs.     

Singular vortices in regular flows

A review of the theory of quasigeostrophic singular vortices embedded in regular flows is presented with emphasis on recent results. The equations governing the joint evolution of singular vortices and regular flow, and the conservation laws (integrals) yielded by these equations are presented. Using these integrals, we prove the nonlinear stability of a vortex pair on the f-plane with respect to any small regular perturbation with finite energy and enstrophy. On the β-plane, a new exact steady-state solution is presented, a hybrid regular-singular modon comprised of a singular vortex and a localized regular component. The unsteady drift of an individual singular β-plane vortex confined to one layer of a two-layer fluid is considered. Analysis of the β-gyres shows that the vortex trajectory is similar to that of a barotropic monopole on the β-plane. Non-stationary behavior of a dipole interacting with a radial flow produced by a point source in a 2D fluid is examined. The dipole always survives after collision with the source and accelerates (decelerates) in a convergent (divergent) radial flow.     

Volumetric three-component velocimetry measurements of the turbulent flow around a Rushton turbine

Volumetric three-component velocimetry measurements have been taken of the flow field near a Rushton turbine in a stirred tank reactor. This particular flow field is highly unsteady and three-dimensional, and is characterized by a strong radial jet, large tank-scale ring vortices, and small-scale blade tip vortices. The experimental technique uses a single camera head with three apertures to obtain approximately 15,000 three-dimensional vectors in a cubic volume. These velocity data offer the most comprehensive view to date of this flow field, especially since they are acquired at three Reynolds numbers (15,000, 107,000, and 137,000). Mean velocity fields and turbulent kinetic energy quantities are calculated. The volumetric nature of the data enables tip vortex identification, vortex trajectory analysis, and calculation of vortex strength. Three identification methods for the vortices are compared based on: the calculation of circumferential vorticity; the calculation of local pressure minima via an eigenvalue approach; and the calculation of swirling strength again via an eigenvalue approach. The use of two-dimensional data and three-dimensional data is compared for vortex identification; a ‘swirl strength’ criterion is less sensitive to completeness of the velocity gradient tensor and overall provides clearer identification of the tip vortices. The principal components of the strain rate tensor are also calculated for one Reynolds number case as these measures of stretching and compression have recently been associated with tip vortex characterization. Vortex trajectories and strength compare favorably with those in the literature. No clear dependence of trajectory on Reynolds number is deduced. The visualization of tip vortices up to 140° past blade passage in the highest Reynolds number case is notable and has not previously been shown.     

A study on the mechanism of high-lift generation by an airfoil in unsteady motion at low reynolds number

The aerodynamic force and flow structure of NACA 0012 airfoil performing an unsteady motion at low Reynolds number (Re=100) are calculated by solving Navier-Stokes equations. The motion consists of three parts: the first translation, rotation and the second translation in the direction opposite to the first. The rotation and the second translation in this motion are expected to represent the rotation and translation of the wing-section of a hovering insect. The flow structure is used in combination with the theory of vorticity dynamics to explain the generation of unsteady aerodynamic force in the motion. During the rotation, due to the creation of strong vortices in short time, large aerodynamic force is produced and the force is almost normal to the airfoil chord. During the second translation, large lift coefficient can be maintained for certain time period and , the lift coefficient averaged over four chord lengths of travel, is larger than 2 (the corresponding steady-state lift coefficient is only 0.9). The large lift coefficient is due to two effects. The first is the delayed shedding of the stall vortex. The second is that the vortices created during the airfoil rotation and in the near wake left by previous translation form a short “vortex street” in front of the airfoil and the “vortex street” induces a “wind”; against this “wind” the airfoil translates, increasing its relative speed. The above results provide insights to the understanding of the mechanism of high-lift generation by a hovering insect. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (19725210)     

Radiation and scattering of sound from a vortex ring

The mechanisms of generation and scattering of sound by a vortex ring are investigated on the basis of fluid dynamics. The vortex ring can serve as a simple dynamic model of the large-scale structures observed in shear flows. Moreover, it is probably the most easily studied vortex element that can be created experimentally. The sound scattering investigation also served to determine the extent to which the vortex is affected by sound, its selectivity with respect to such parameters as the acoustic frequency, the angle of incidence of the wave, etc. The perturbed motion is considered against the background of the steady-state motion of the ring. The perturbed motion in the vortex core is determined on the basis of linear incompressible fluid dynamics. Two terms of the expansion in the M number of the far acoustic field generated by the perturbations in the core are found in accordance with Lighthill's theory. The acoustic power and directivity of the radiation and the acoustic instability growth rate are calculated. It is shown that the scattering of sound by the vortex ring is a resonance effect, and the scattering amplitude near resonance is determined. The acoustic action on the hydrodynamic structure of the flow in the core of the ring is especially intense near the resonances and extends over a period short as compared with the characteristic time of the acoustic instability.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 3, pp. 83–95, May–June, 1987.     

The nonlinear interaction of vortex rings with a free surface

Nonlinear interactions of vortex rings with a free surface are considered in an incompressible, ideal fluid using the vortex contour dynamics technique and the boundary integral equation method. The flow is axisymmetric and the vorticity is linearly distributed in the vortex. Effects of the gravity and the surface tension as well as the initial geometric parameter of the vortex on the interaction process are investigated in considerable detail. The interaction process may be divided into three major stages: the vortex free-traveling stage, the collision stage, and the vortex stretching and rebounding stage. Time evolutions of both the vortex and free surface under various conditions are provided and analyzed. Two kinds of waves exist on the free surface during interaction. In a special case where the gravity and surface tension are very weak or the vortex is very strong, an electric-bulb-like ‘cavity’ is formed on the free surface and the vortex is trapped in the ‘cavity’ for quite a long time, resulting in a large amount of fluid above the mean fluid surface. The project supported by the National Education Commission of China and NASA under cooperative grant agreement # NCC5-34     

On one mechanism of formation of tornado‐like vortices in a rotating fluid

It is shown that during excitation of forced, resonant, inertial oscillations of large amplitude in a rigidly rotating fluid, the mechanism of formation of tornadolike vortices is primarily of a kinematic nature($advection of circulation of the azimuthal component velocity and stretching of vortex lines by the poloidal components of the velocity field that arise from excitation of inertial oscillations). The main parameters of the vortices are obtained by solutions of model problems. To excite such oscillations, it is necessary to deliver energy far exceeding the initial energy of the rotating fluid. Therefore, inertial oscillations by themselves cannot lead to the occurrence of intense atmospheric vortices. Nevertheless, such oscillations can apparently play the role of a trigger mechanism that activates more complex processes of vortex formation related to instability of the atmosphere.     

Flow near a vibrating cylinder

The results are given of experimental investigations into the change in the structure of the secondary steady flows near a circular cylinder vibrating in a fluid at rest in the direction perpendicular to its axis in a wide range of vibration amplitudes at high Reynolds numbers. For vibration amplitudes less than the cylinder diameter, not only viscous waves but also four vortices are generated near the surface of the cylinder and four steady flows at some distance from it. During a period of the vibration, the vortices near the cylinder change their shape and position. At vibration amplitudes comparable with the cylinder diameter, the vortices become separated and form two vortex streets. If the vibration amplitude is increased further, the streets bifurcate.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 4, pp. 190–192, July–August, 1982.     

A model of stratified entrainment using vortex persistence

A new model is proposed for the entrainment rate by vortices across stratified interfaces. In the model, different entrainment regimes are distinguished by the conventional parameters Richardson, Reynolds, and Schmidt number as well as a new parameter, the “vortex persistence”. Vortex persistence is defined as the number of rotations a vortex makes during the time it moves its own diameter with respect to the interface. It is further proposed that the concept of vortex persistence is important whenever a vortex is near any kind of surface, either stratified or solid. The model is in accord with most field and laboratory observations in a variety of stratified and bounded flows, including measurements of wall heat transfer and vortex formation in starting jets.     

Barotropic elliptical dipoles in a rotating fluid

Barotropic f-plane dipolar vortices were generated in a rotating fluid and a comparison was made with the so-called supersmooth f-plane solution which—in contrast to the classical Lamb–Chaplygin solution—is marked by an elliptical separatrix and a doubly continuously differentiable vorticity field. Dye-visualization and high-resolution particle-tracking techniques revealed that the observed dipole characteristics (separatrix aspect ratio, cross-sectional vorticity distribution and vorticity versus streamfunction relationship) are in close agreement with those of the supersmooth f-plane solution for the entire lifespan of the dipolar vortex.     

Intermittency and Regularity Issues in 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis> Navier-Stokes Turbulence

Two related open problems in the theory of 3D Navier-Stokes turbulence are discussed in this paper. The first is the phenomenon of intermittency in the dissipation field. Dissipation-range intermittency was first discovered experimentally by Batchelor and Townsend over fifty years ago. It is characterized by spatio-temporal binary behaviour in which long, quiescent periods in the velocity signal are interrupted by short, active ‘events’ during which there are violent fluctuations away from the average. The second and related problem is whether solutions of the 3D Navier-Stokes equations develop finite time singularities during these events. This paper shows that Leray’s weak solutions of the three-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations can have a binary character in time. The time-axis is split into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ intervals: on the ‘good’ intervals solutions are bounded and regular, whereas singularities are still possible within the ‘bad’ intervals. An estimate for the width of the latter is very small and decreases with increasing Reynolds number. It also decreases relative to the lengths of the good intervals as the Reynolds number increases. Within these ‘bad’ intervals, lower bounds on the local energy dissipation rate and other quantities, such as ||u(·, t)||_∞ and ||∇u(·, t)||_∞, are very large, resulting in strong dynamics at sub-Kolmogorov scales. Intersections of bad intervals for n≧1 are related to the potentially singular set in time. It is also proved that the Navier-Stokes equations are conditionally regular provided, in a given ‘bad’ interval, the energy has a lower bound that is decaying exponentially in time.Final version 17 March 05. Original version November 03.