Associated disturbances around a vortex ring in a stratified fluid

A motion of a vortex ring in a stratified fluid is accompanied by associated disturbances which, in the schlieren visualization in the field of a horizontal density gradient, have the shape of a symmetric four-petal configuration. The criterion of the existence of the disturbances is the Froude number Fr based on the motion velocity and the vertical vortex size. On the range Fr > 1, the disturbances are stable with respect to the variation of themotion regime and the distortion of the vortex shape. For Fr < 1 the disturbances disappear. Computer processing of the schlieren photographs showed that the experimental spatial dependences of the disturbance amplitude are close to the functions describing the distribution of the vertical velocity component in the inviscid flow past a sphere.     

Three-dimensional instability on the interaction between a vortex and a stationary sphere

We present direct numerical simulations of the interaction between a vortex ring and a stationary sphere for Re = 2,000. We analyze the vortex dynamics of the ring as it approaches the sphere surface, and the boundary layer formed on the surface of the sphere undergoes separation to form a secondary vortex ring. This secondary vortex ring can develop azimuthal instabilities, which grow rapidly as it interacts with the primary ring. The azimuthal instabilities on both rings are characterized by analysis of the azimuthal component decomposition of the axial vorticity.     

Optical Analysis and Qualitative Discrimination of Vortex-Flame Interaction in a Plane Premixed Shear Layer

To obtain practical schemes of vortex–flame interactions, a series of organized eddies formed in the plane premixed shear layer is investigated, instead of a single vortex ring or a single vortex tube. The plane premixed shear layer is first formed between two parallel uniform propane–air mixture streams. For getting clear qualitative pictures of vortex–flame interactions in the plane premixed shear layer, two extreme ignition points are assigned; one is assigned at the center of an organized eddy where the vortex motion plays an important role, the other at the midpoint between two adjacent organized eddies where the rolling-up motion prevails. A premixed flame is initiated by an electric discharge at one of the two assigned points and propagates either in the large scale organized eddy or along the interface between two uniform mixture streams. Propagation and deformation processes of the flame are observed using the simultaneously two-directional and high-speed Schlieren photography. The tangential velocity of organized eddy and the equivalence ratio of premixed shear flow are varied as two main parameters. The outline of propagating flame after the midpoint ignition is numerically analyzed by superposing the flame propagation having a constant burning velocity on the vortex flow field simulated with the discrete vortex method. The results obtained show that there exists another type of vortex–flame interaction in the plane shear layer in addition to the vortex bursting, and that it is caused by the rolling-up motion particular to the coherent structure in the plane shear layer and is simply named the vortex boosting. It is qualitatively concluded therefore that, in the ordinary turbulent premixed flames formed in the plane premixed shear layer, these two fundamental vortex-flame interactions get tangled with each other to augment the propagation velocity. An empirical expression which qualitatively takes into account of the effects of both vortex and chemical properties is finally proposed.     

Acoustic emission from interaction of a vortex ring with a sphere

Acoustic waves emitted by a vortex ring interacting with a fixed solid sphere are studied experimentally and theoretically. The experiments are carried out for two kindsof vortex-sphere arrangement: (A) a vortex ring passes over the sphere, and (B) a vortex ring passes by the sphere. The vortex motion is examined optically by means of a photosensor system, and the pressure signals of the emitted wave are detected by 1/2-inch microphones in the far field. In case A, the measured diameter of the vortex ring after passing the sphere increases from its initial diameter. The observed acoustic wave is dominated mainly by a dipole emission, and some contribution from a quadrupole radiation is present. In case B, the emitted wave is characterized by a rotating dipole emission in which the dipole axis rotates as the vortex position changes relative to the sphere.     

Point vortex model of the unsteady separated flow past a semi-infinite plate with transverse motion

Two-dimensional unsteady separated flow past a semi-infinite plate with transverse motion is considered. The rolling-up of the separated shear-layer is modelled by a point vortex whose time-dependent circulation is predicted by an unsteady Kutta condition. A power-law starting flow is assumed along with a power law for the transverse motion. The effects of the motion of the plate on the starting vortex circulation and trajectory are presented. A suitable vortex shedding mechanism is introduced and a class of flows involving several vortices is presented. Finally, some possibilities for actively controlling the production of circulation by moving the plate are discussed.     

Structure and evolution of the airflow generated by a slender body entry near a tube

When a slender body moving forward in open air enters into a confined region, two important unsteady aerodynamic phenomena are generated. An exiting flow is created with a direction opposite to the body movement and inside the confined region, a compression wave is formed. Generation mechanism of compression wave have been extensively studied but so far, no detailed investigation of the exiting flow has ever been reported. The experimental study presented in this paper was undertaken to gain insight into the structure and the evolution of the exit-flow. Experiments were conducted with an axisymmetric apparatus and the explored range of the moving body speed was 5–50 m/s. The study focused on the influence of the body speed and the body nose geometry on the flow. It was shown that the air ejected from the tube entrance generates an annulus jet accompanied by a vortex ring. The vortex development was clarified using laser sheet visualizations associated with unsteady pressure and velocity measurements at the tube entrance. It is constituted by four phases, the pre-vortex phase, the vortex development phase, the vortex convection phase and the vortex breakdown phase. The duration of each of these steps was found to be independent of both the studied parameters in a non-dimensional time scale. Furthermore, neither the body speed nor the nose geometry induced significant changes on the vortex ring evolution, except for extreme conditions (low body speed, V_M.B.<15 m/s, and/or very long nose geometry, L_nose/D_M.B.>6). The evolution of the vortex ring was compared to that of ‘classical’ vortex ring generated at a tube exit by a piston motion with large non-dimensional stroke length. Main similarities and differences were discussed in the paper. In particular, the formation number of vortex ring observed in our experiments was found to be significantly smaller.     

Transverse motions of a single sphere in hanging or swing configurations under a longitudinal flow

As a result of the reporting of casual observations of the oscillation or rotation of the beacons in transmission line guard cables, some attention has been paid to the stability of the guard cables with beacons.The relatively more frequent observation of these motions has been explained in recent papers dealing with the elastic part of the problem as a consequence of the increasing number of resonant frequencies (one for each additional beacon) that can be excited by appropriate aerodynamic loads. But a model that could explain the aerodynamic forces that can give rise to this motion is still lacking.In this paper we consider the transverse motions of a single sphere in two simplified configurations, (1) hanging (tethered at one point), and (2) swing (tethered at two points) under a longitudinal flow, performing small amplitude swinging oscillations or circular-orbit autorotation about an axis parallel to the main flow direction. The dynamic model here presented is based on the motion equations, which also include a model for the aerodynamic lift and drag forces on the sphere in transverse motion, which considers the effect of changes of flow around the sphere due to the cable interference. These forces are contained in the symmetry plane of the flow relative to the sphere, and, when projected on the lateral direction, give rise to a lateral force, which can explain the existence of the azimuthal motion even at a large reduced velocity, outside the vortex induced vibration (VIV) range The conditions for stable small oscillation motion and circular-orbit autorotation of a sphere in a swing configuration are given.The results for the aerodynamic loads in transverse motion have also been applied to the case of a circular-orbit autorotation of a hanging sphere (spherical pendulum) under a vertical flow. The angular rotation speed and the orbit radius (or cable angle) have been determined as a function of aerodynamic coefficients and configuration parameters.     

Formation of `clusters' of vortices on a sphere

This paper applies the Hamiltonian approach to the two-dimensional motion of an incompressible fluid on a curvilinear surface. The method has been used to formulate governing equations of motion, and to interpret the evolution of a system consisting of N∼10²–10³ localized two-dimensional vortices on a sphere. The analysis shows that the instability appears immediately, forming initial disorganized structures which develop and finally `burst'. The system evolves to a few separated vortex `spots' which are quasi-stable.     

Pseudo-canonical formulation of 3-dimensional vortex motion and vorton model analysis

From the author's pseudo-canonical formulation of 3-dimensional vortex motion, the basic equations for the vorton model are derived. The division of vorton and reduction of meshes of time integration are assumed, in numerical calculations. This method is applied to numerical studies on evolutions of a connected 3-ring vortex and a vortex ring inside or outside a sphere. These seem to show cutting of the vortex filament and the following reconnection or attachment to the wall. The dissipation effect due to the approximation scheme and the singularity of vorton are discussed.     

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.     

Instability of the flow around an impacting sphere

Results from an experimental and numerical study of the flow generated by a sphere immersed in fluid, impacting normally without rebound on a solid wall, are presented. The parameters are the running distance before impact and the sphere Reynolds number. For running lengths less than 7.5 diameters, the sphere wake before impact is axisymmetric in the form of an attached vortex ring. After impact, this ring overtakes the sphere and spreads out along the wall. For Reynolds numbers below 1000, the flow remains axisymmetric at all times. For higher values, perturbations of azimuthal wavenumbers 20–25 are observed on the vortex ring, leading to a breakdown of the flow. We analyse different hypotheses concerning the origin of this instability, with the conclusion that a centrifugal instability mechanism is likely to be acting in this flow. Comparisons are made with the flow involving an isolated vortex ring approaching a wall. Numerical simulations of this case have revealed that two distinct instability mechanisms are operating, one of which appears to be similar to the centrifugal instability observed for the sphere impact.     

Acoustic waves emitted by a vortex ring passing near a wedge-like plate

Acoustic waves emitted by a vortex ring moving near a thin wedge-like plate of finite width have been studied. The experiments are performed for three configurations: the plate (A) is held edgeways to the direction of the vortex motion, (B) is held sideways to the direction, and (C) is held edgeways at an angle of 45° against the vortex motion. The observed sound wave is of dipole radiation type, and the magnitude of the pressure is large in the direction of the normal to the plate plane and small in parallel. The observed pressure is proportional to the third power of the vortex speed. The instantaneous force exerted on the plate by the vortex motion has also been examined. The force vector is mainly normal to the plate plane. The observed profiles agree within a reasonable degree of accuracy with the theoretical ones calculated for the vortex ring interacting with the flat plate of thickness zero.     

Off-axial acoustic scattering of a high-order Bessel vortex beam by a rigid sphere

In this paper, the off-axial acoustic scattering of a high-order Bessel vortex beam by a rigid immovable (fixed) sphere is investigated. It is shown here that shifting the sphere off the axis of wave propagation induces a dependence of the scattering on the azimuthal angle. Theoretical expressions for the incident and scattered field from a rigid immovable sphere are derived. The near- and far-field acoustic scattering fields are expressed using partial wave series involving the spherical harmonics, the scattering coefficients of the sphere, the half-conical angle of the wave number components of the beam, its order and the beam-shape coefficients. The scattering coefficients of the sphere and the 3D scattering directivity plots in the near- and far-field regions are evaluated using a numerical integration procedure. The calculations indicate that the scattering directivity patterns near the sphere and in the far-field are strongly dependent upon the position of the sphere facing the incident high-order Bessel vortex beam.     

Interaction of a shock wave with a high-speed vortex ring

This is a detailed experimental study of the behavior of diffraction and refraction of a shock front resulting from the interaction of a shock wave and a vortex ring. A spherical shock wave impinges on a vortex ring which is traveling at a high speed in the opposite direction. The configuration of the wave front is visualized by a shadowgraph technique using a pulse dye laser. The shock front is influenced by the non-uniform flow induced by the vortex and diffracted around the vortex core. The shock front passing through the inside of the ring is decelerated by the counter-flow, and the density behind it increases. The diffracted front over the vortex ring expands spirally around the core and intersects the front passing through the inside of the ring. The intersecting circular curve converges toward the central axis of the ring. The diffracted shock in the inner part of the core forms branching waves. The branching points also focus on the central axis of the ring.     

Hydrodynamic Interaction Between a Slightly Distorted Sphere and a Fixed Sphere

The planar motion of a slightly distorted sphere around a fixed sphere in an unbounded fluid is investigated by a perturbation approach. An approximate velocity potential is derived in terms of sets of singularities by using the successive potential method. In a relative coordinate system moving with the uniform stream, the kinetic energy of the fluid is expressed as a function of 15 added masses. Approximate analytical solutions of added masses in series form are obtained and applied to determine the trajectories of the slightly distorted sphere around a fixed sphere. The hydrodynamic interaction between two bodies is computed based on the dynamical equations of motion. It is found that the presence of a sphere generates an effect on the planar motion of the slightly distorted sphere and the initial configuration of the slightly distorted sphere has a decisive influence on the development of its subsequent rotational motion. Received 24 August 2000 and accepted 8 February 2001     

Vortex motion on a sphere: barrier with two gaps

Techniques based on the conformal mapping and the numerical method of contour dynamics are presented for computing the motion of a finite area patch of constant vorticity on a sphere in the presence of a thin barrier with two gaps. Finite area patch motion is compared with exact point vortex trajectories and good agreement is found between the point vortex trajectories and the centroid motion of finite area patches when the patch remains close to circular. Patch centroids are, in general, closely constrained to follow point vortex trajectories. However, Kelvin’s theorem constrains the circulation about the barrier to be a constant of the motion, thus, forcing a time-dependent volume flux through the gaps. More exotic motion is observed when the through-gap flow forces the vortex patch close to an edge of a barrier, resulting in the vortex splitting with only part of the patch passing through the gap. As the gap width is decreased this effect becomes more dramatic.     

Self-similar collapse of 2D and 3D vortex filament models

In this article, a very simple toy model for a candidate blow-up solution of the Euler equation by Boratav and Pelz (vortex dodecapole) is investigated. In this model, vortex tubes are replaced with straight vortex filaments of infinitesimal thickness, and the entire motion is monitored by tracing the motion of a representative point on one vortex filament. It is demonstrated that this model permits a self-similar collapse solution which provides the time dependence of the length scale as (t _c ? t)^1/2, (t < t _c), where the collapse time t _c depends on the initial configuration. From the conservation of circulation, this time dependence implies that vorticity ω scales as (t _c ? t) ^?1, which agrees with the one observed in the direct numerical (pseudo spectral) simulations of the vortex dodecapole. Finally, possible modification of the model is considered.     

Large eddy simulation of a vortex ring impinging on a three-dimensional circular cylinder

A vortex ring impacting a three-dimensional circular cylinder is studied using large eddy simulation (LES) for a Reynolds number Re = 4 × 10⁴ based on the initial translation speed and diameter of the vortex ring. We have investigated the evolution of vortical structures and identified three typical evolution phases. When the primary vortex closely approaches to the cylinder, a secondary vortex is generated and its segment parts move inward to the primary vortex ring. then two large-scale loop-like vortices are formed to evolve in opposite directions. Thirdly, the two loop-like vortices collide with each other to form complicated small-scale vortical structures. Moreover, a series of hair-pin vortices are generated due to the stretching and deformation of the tertiary vortex. The trajectories of vortical structures and the relevant evolution speeds are analyzed. The total kinetic energy and enstrophy are investigated to reveal their properties relevant to the three evolution phases.     

Wake dynamics of external flow past a curved circular cylinder with the free-stream aligned to the plane of curvature

The fundamental mechanism of vortex shedding past a curved cylinder has been investigated at a Reynolds number of 100 using three-dimensional spectral/hp computations. Two different configurations are presented herein: in both cases the main component of the geometry is a circular cylinder whose centreline is a quarter of a ring and the inflow direction is parallel to the plane of curvature. In the first set of simulations the cylinder is forced to transversely oscillate at a fixed amplitude, while the oscillation frequency has been varied around the Strouhal value. Both geometries exhibit in-phase vortex shedding, with the vortex cores bent according to the body's curvature, although the wake topology is markedly different. In particular, the configuration that was found to suppress the vortex shedding in absence of forced motion exhibits now a primary instability in the near wake. A second set of simulations has been performed imposing an oscillatory roll to the curved cylinder, which is forced to rotate transversely around the axis of its bottom section. This case shows entirely different wake features from the previous one: the vortex shedding appears to be out-of-phase along the body's span, with straight cores that tend to twist after being shed and manifest a secondary spanwise instability. Further, the damping effect stemming from the transverse planar motion of the part of the cylinder parallel to the flow is no longer present, leading to a positive energy transfer from the fluid to the structure.     

Sound emission by a vortex ring passing through a circular hole in a large flat plate

Acoustic emission has been studied experimentally when a vortex ring passes through a circular hole in a large flat plate, along its normal axis. The speed of the vortex ring is made high enough for the sound emission to be detectable, but can be regarded as sufficiently low in comparison to the sound speed. Substantial monopole and quadrupole components are observed in the detected wave profiles. Translational motion of the vortex ring in the presence of the flat plate with a hole has been observed optically, and its relation with the sound emission is determined. In this case, the power law of the acoustic pressure amplitude of monopolar vortex sound versus the translation speed U of the vortex ring is first measured in detail and is found to be U^2.1–U^2.4. This means that experimentally determined powers for the monopole components in the two half-spaces also agree approximately with the corresponding values predicted by the theory of vortex sound.