Velocity–vorticity–helicity formulation and a solver for the Navier–Stokes equations

For the three-dimensional incompressible Navier–Stokes equations, we present a formulation featuring velocity, vorticity and helical density as independent variables. We find the helical density can be observed as a Lagrange multiplier corresponding to the divergence-free constraint on the vorticity variable, similar to the pressure in the case of the incompressibility condition for velocity. As one possible practical application of this new formulation, we consider a time-splitting numerical scheme based on an alternating procedure between vorticity–helical density and velocity–Bernoulli pressure systems of equations. Results of numerical experiments include a comparison with some well-known schemes based on pressure–velocity formulation and illustrate the competitiveness on the new scheme as well as the soundness of the new formulation.     

Projection conditions on the vorticity in viscous incompressible flows

The problem of establishing appropriate conditions for the vorticity transport equation is considered. It is shown that, in viscous incompressible flows, the boundary conditions on the velocity imply conditions of an integral type on the vorticity. These conditions determine a projection of the vorticity field on the linear manifold of the harmonic vector fields. Some computational consequences of the above result in two-dimensional calculations by means of the nonprimitive variables, stream function and vorticity, are examined. As an example of the application of the discrete analogue of the projection conditions, numerical solutions of the driven cavity problem are reported.     

Timelike Killing vectors and ergo surfaces in non-asymptotically flat spacetimes

Ergo surfaces are investigated in spacetimes with a cosmological constant. We find the existence of multiple timelike Killing vectors, each corresponding to a distinct ergo surface, with no one being preferred. Using a kinematic invariant, which provides a measure of hypersurface orthogonality, we explore its potential role in selecting a preferred timelike Killing vector and consequently a unique ergo surface.     

Numerical studies of fluid flow through tubes with double constrictions

The flow fields in the neighbourhood of double constrictions in a circular cylindrical tube were studied numerically. The effects on the streamline, velocity and vorticity distributions as the flow passes through the constrictions in the tube were studied in the Reynolds number range 5–200. Double constrictions with dimensionless spacing ratios of 1, 2, 3 and ∞ were studied for a 50% constriction. It is noted that when the Reynolds number is below 10, no recirculation region is formed in the above constricted flow. For Reynolds numbers greater than 10, a recirculation region forms downstream of each of the constrictions. For constriction spacing ratios of 1, 2, and 3, when the Reynolds number is high, a recirculation region spreads between the valley of the constrictions. The recirculation region formed between the two constrictions has a diminishing effect on the generation of wall vorticity near the second constriction area. In general, the peak value of wall vorticity is found slightly upstream of each of the constrictions. When the Reynolds number is increased, the peak wall vorticity value increases and its location is moved upstream. Maximum wall vorticity generated by the first constriction is found to be always greater than the maximum wall vorticity generated by the second constriction. The extent of this spreading of the recirculation region from the first constriction and its effects on the second constriction depend on the constriction spacing ratio and the flow Reynolds number.     

Finite element stream function-vorticity solutions of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations

The incompressible, two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations are solved by the finite element method (FEM) using a novel stream function/vorticity formulation. The no-slip solid walls boundary condition is applied by taking advantage of the simple implementation of natural boundary conditions in the FEM, eliminating the need for an iterative evaluation of wall vorticity formulae. In addition, with the proper choice of elements, a stable scheme is constructed allowing convergence to be achieved for all Reynolds numbers, from creeping to inviscid flow, without the traditional need for upwinding and its associated false diffusion. Solutions are presented for a variety of geometries.     

Removing of vortices in incompressible flows by distributed controls

We consider an optimal control problem of fluids flow. The fluid motion is governed by the incompressible time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations. A new optimal control formulation for the reduction and possibly extinction of vortices is proposed. A cost functional based on a local dynamical systems characterization of vortices is investigated. The resulting functional is a non-convex function of the velocity gradient tensor. The optimality system describing first order necessary optimality conditions is derived. The gradient and the second derivative of the cost functional with respect to the distributed control are established.     

Backward stochastic differential equations associated with the vorticity equations

In this paper we derive a non-linear version of the Feynman–Kac formula for the solutions of the vorticity equation in dimension 2 with space periodic boundary conditions. We prove the existence (global in time) and uniqueness for a stochastic terminal value problem associated with the vorticity equation in dimension 2. A particular class of terminal values provide, via these probabilistic methods, solutions for the vorticity equation.     

Interactions between vortices and flexible walls

We give two fundamental solutions for the motion of a point vortex near a flexible wall, up to first order in wall deflection, using computational methods. For a point vortex near an infinite horizontal wall, the deformation of the wall intensifies the flow at the wall near the vortex, and increases the speed of the vortex. Near a circular wall there is a strong mutual amplification of the deflection of the wall and the pressure force induced by the deflection, as the point vortex approaches the wall. The total force on the wall diverges as the inverse cube of the distance to the point vortex, and the induced speed of the point vortex diverges as the inverse fourth power of distance to the wall.     

Adaptive panel representation for oblique collision of two vortex rings

In this article, we use a hierarchical panel method for representing vortex sheet surface motion in 3D flow to investigate the oblique collision of two vortex rings. The particles representing the sheet are advected by a regularized Biot-Savart integral with smoothed Rosenhead-Moore kernel. The particle velocities are evaluated by an adaptive treecode algorithm based on Taylor expansions in Cartesian coordinates. The method allowed us to consider late stages of a vortex rings collision, producing a funnel region. Vorticity iso-surfaces evolution is also investigated.     

Global well-posedness of the velocity–vorticity-Voigt model of the 3D Navier–Stokes equations

The velocity–vorticity formulation of the 3D Navier–Stokes equations was recently found to give excellent numerical results for flows with strong rotation. In this work, we propose a new regularization of the 3D Navier–Stokes equations, which we call the 3D velocity–vorticity-Voigt (VVV) model, with a Voigt regularization term added to momentum equation in velocity–vorticity form, but with no regularizing term in the vorticity equation. We prove global well-posedness and regularity of this model under periodic boundary conditions. We prove convergence of the model's velocity and vorticity to their counterparts in the 3D Navier–Stokes equations as the Voigt modeling parameter tends to zero. We prove that the curl of the model's velocity converges to the model vorticity (which is solved for directly), as the Voigt modeling parameter tends to zero. Finally, we provide a criterion for finite-time blow-up of the 3D Navier–Stokes equations based on this inviscid regularization.