Vortex dynamics simulation of interacting vortex rings and filaments

Interaction between a vortex ring and a vortex filament of the same strength has been simulated by a three-dimensional vortex method which employs vortex arrows with the Rosenhead-Moore core structure. The power spectrum of the velocity field and the enstrophy spectrum are obtained in a closed form whose limit of the core radius tending to zero is equivalent to that given be Aksman et al. (1985) Phys. Rev. Lett. 54. 2410. Four basic modes of the interaction are shown to exist. Temporal evolution of the spectrum during the interaction is also obtained for the basic modes: the energy of the velocity field is generally transferred to the high-wavenumber range as the interaction proceeds.     

Interaction dynamics of two coaxial vortex rings in the presence of natural convection

The problem of the interaction of a pair of coaxial initially stationary thermals is investigated numerically on the basis of the Navier-Stokes equations for a compressible heat-conducting gas. It is established that upon transformation of the thermals into vortex rings, slip-through of the latter, limited in time because of the diffusion of vorticity and the action of molecular viscosity, is realized.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 4, pp. 169–171, July–August, 1991.     

Interaction of coaxial vortex rings in an ideal fluid

Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, pp. 78–84, March–April, 1988.     

Head-on collision of two coaxial vortex rings in an ideal fluid

The opposing motion of two coaxial vortex rings is classified in relation to the initial parameters.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 4, pp. 60–64, July–August, 1989.The authors are grateful to V. V. Meleshko for discussing their results.     

A computational study of vortex rings interacting with a constant-temperature heated wall

This study is motivated by understanding the connections between the vortical structures in impinging jets and the wall heat transfer. Of particular interest are: (1) examining how the stage of evolution of vortex pairing in the jet might influence the wall heat transfer, and (2) establishing correlations between the vortex characteristics and the Nusselt number (Nu) distribution. To this end, CFD simulations are conducted of three simplified model problems involving the interaction of isolated axisymmetric vortex rings with a flat, constant-temperature, heated wall. The cases represent three scenarios of vortex-wall interaction: before (Case I), during (Case II) and after (Case III) pairing. The results show that when two vortices concurrently interact with the wall and undergo pairing (Case II), a significant instantaneous enhancement in Nu is attained in comparison to that associated with a single vortex interacting with the wall (Cases I and III). However, Case II also leads to the largest subsequent decay in Nu enhancement due to the formation of a particularly strong secondary vortex. In all cases, a deterioration in Nu, relative to unsteady diffusion, is observed simultaneously with the enhancement. Notwithstanding this deterioration, the net effect of vortex-wall interaction on the heat transfer remains positive with Case II producing the highest heat transfer rate. An analysis is conducted to establish the connection between the instantaneous maximum and minimum Nu, the circulation and the radial and the wall-normal location of the core-centers of the vortices, the thermal boundary layer thickness, the boundary layer separation location and the wall shear stress.     

Motion of two vortex rings

It is well-known [1] that two coaxial rings which are moving in the same direction pass through each other alternately. In the case of thin vortex rings this phenomenon was first considered qualitatively in [2]. The assumption that the vortex rings are thin means that when their interaction is considered they can be assumed to be annular vortex filaments. In the present paper, on the basis of the approach suggested in [2], certain new properties are determined for a system of two coaxial vortex rings of the same intensity.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 5, pp. 176–177, September–October, 1985.The authors express their sincere thanks to A. A. Aleksandrov for his interest in their work.     

Formation and basic parameters of vortex rings

This paper describes an experimental study of the properties of vortex rings with variation of parameters of the air jet expelled from a round nozzle by a special device. Characteristics of the vortex rings were determined by hotwire anemometer measurements of the velocity field at a certain distance from the nozzle exit where vortex formation is presumably completed. A mathematical model for the formation of a vortex ring based on conservation laws is proposed, and a comparison of theoretical results with experimental data is given.     

Mechanism of formation of vortex rings

It is demonstrated experimentally that a vortex ring is created by the slowing down of the central part of a stream and that during formation of this ring the amount of the mass of liquid participating in its formation can change. The possibility is also established of obtaining liquid vortex blobs in the form of hemispheres or spheroids.Deceased.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR. Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, pp. 19–26, March–April, 1973.In conclusion, the author thanks G. A. Lyubimov and A. T. Onufriev for useful discussions of the data from the investigations, and O. M. Belotserkovskii for interest in the work.     

Evolution of single elliptic vortex rings

The evolution of single elliptic vortex rings for initial aspect ratio (AR)=2,4,6 has been studied. The incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved by a dealiased pseudo-spectral method with 64³ grid points in a periodic cube. We find that there are three kinds of vortex motion asAR increases and bifurcation occurs at certainAR. The processes of advection, interaction and decay of vortex ring are discussed. Numerical results coincide with experiments and other authors' numerical simulation. The project is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China and Doctoral Program of Institution of Higher Education     

The decay of confined vortex rings

Vortex rings are produced during the ejection of fluid through a nozzle or orifice, which occurs in a wide range of biological conditions such as blood flow through the valves of the heart or through arterial constrictions. Confined vortex ring dynamics, such as these, have not been previously studied despite their occurrence within the biological flow conditions mentioned. In this work, we investigate laminar vortex rings using particle image velocimetry and develop a new semi-empirical model for the evolution of vortex ring circulation subject to confinement. Here we introduce a decay parameter ?? which exponentially grows with increasing vortex ring confinement ratio, the ratio of the vortex ring diameter (D _VR) to the confinement diameter (D), with the relationship $\beta=4.38 \exp(9.5D_{\rm VR}/D),$ resulting in a corresponding increase in the rate of vortex ring circulation decay. This work enables the prediction of circulation decay rate based on confinement, which is important to understanding naturally occurring confined vortex ring dynamics.     

Generalised vortex rings with and without swirl

Steady solutions of the Euler equations for flow of an inviscid incompressible fluid may be obtained by considering the process of magnetic relaxation to analogous magnetostatic equilibria in a viscous perfectly conducting fluid. In particular, solutions which represent rotational disturbances propagating without change of structure in an unbounded fluid may be obtained by this method. When conditions are axisymmetric, these disturbances are vortex rings of general structure, which may include a swirl component of velocity. This situation is analysed in some detail, and it is shown that the vortex is characterised by two functions: V(ψ), the volume within toroidal surfaces ψ = cst. and W(ψ), the toroidal volume flux inside the torus ψ = cst. For each choice of {V(ψ), W(ψ)}, satisfying appropriate limit conditions, there exists at least one vortex ring of steady structure.     

On the formation of vortex rings and pairs

The axisymmetric vortex sheet model developed by Nitsche & Krasny (1994) has been extended to study the formation of vortex rings (pairs) at the edge of circular (2D) tube and opening. Computations based on this model are in good agreement with the experiments (Didden (1979) for circular tube and Auerbach (1987) for 2D tube and opening). Using this new model, evidences are provided to show that the main failure of the similarity theory (the false prediction of axial trajectory of vortex ring) is due to its ignorance of the self-induced ring velocity (mutual induction for vortex pair). We further reason why the similarity theory succeeds in its prediction of radial movement of vortex ring. The effects of various parameters such as turning angle α and piston speedU _p (t) on the formation of vortex ring are investigated. Numerical result shows that turning angle α has no effect on circulation shed τ. We also discuss Glezer (1988)'s summary on the influence ofU _p upon the shedding circulation, and finally give the variation of core distribution of vortex ring with α andU _p (t). The project is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China and Doctoral Program of Institution of Higher Education     

Vortex rings interacting with a wall

Accurate numerical simulations of vortex rings impinging on flat boundaries have revealed the same features observed in the experiment of Walkeret al. (1987). They observed atRe _v >1250 the formation of azimuthal instabilities in the secondary ring during its compression within the primary ring. In the present numerical simulation the number of waves agrees very well with those observed in the experiment. The distributions of the vorticities together with the distribution of each term in the vorticity equations give insights on the formation of azimuthal instabilities.     

On the evolution of laminar vortex rings

Using Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) and Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV), the physical properties of laminar vortex rings are investigated in the Reynolds-number range 830 ≤ Re ≤ 1650. The measured initial circulations of the vortex rings are found to agree well with corrected versions of the vorticity-flux (slug-flow) model proposed by Didden and Pullin. The DPIV and LDA data show excellent agreement regarding local velocities and vortex-ring circulations. The DPIV data depict the distribution of the vorticity and circulation in the core regions, where the resulting vorticity distributions are found to be self-similar Gaussian profiles. The propagation velocity of the vortex rings is well approximated by an analytical model of Saffman for large core sizes. In the asymptotic limit t → ∞, the trajectories are in excellent agreement with the exact Stokes-dipole solution of Cantwell and Rott.     

Dynamics of vortex rings in viscous fluids

As part of a long range study of vortex rings, their dynamics, interactions with boundaries and with each other, we present the results of experiments on thin core rings generated by a piston gun in water. We characterize the dynamics of these rings by means of the traditional equations for such rings in an inviscid fluid suitably modifying them to be applicable to a viscous fluid. We develop expressions for the radius, core size, circulation, and bubble dimensions of these rings.     

Characteristics of counter-rotating vortex rings formed ahead of a compressible vortex ring

Characteristics of high Mach number compressible vortex ring generated at the open end of a short driver section shock tube is studied experimentally using high-speed laser sheet-based flow visualization. The formation mechanism and the evolution of counter rotating vortex ring (CRVR) formed ahead of the primary vortex ring are studied in details for shock Mach number (M) 1.7, with different driver section lengths. It has been observed that the strength of the embedded shock, which appears at high M, increases with time due to the flow expansion in the generating jet. Strength of the embedded shock also varies with radius; it is strong at smaller radii and weak at larger radii; hence, it creates a velocity gradient ahead of the embedded shock. At critical Mach number (M _c ≥ 1.6), this shear layer rolls up and forms a counter rotating vortex ring due to Biot-Savart induction of the vortex sheet. For larger driver section lengths, the embedded shock and the resultant shear layer persists for a longer time, resulting in the formation of multiple CRVRs due to Kelvin–Helmholtz type instability of the vortex sheet. CRVRs roll over the periphery of the primary vortex ring; they move upstream due to their self-induced velocity and induced velocity imparted by primary ring, and interact with the trailing jet. Formation of these vortices depends strongly upon the embedded shock strength and the length of the generating jet. Primary ring diameter increases rapidly during the formation and the evolution of CRVR due to induced velocity imparted on the primary ring by CRVR. Induced velocity of CRVR also affects the translational velocity of the primary ring considerably.     

An experimental study of viscous vortex rings

The work focuses on the problem of stability and viscous decay of single vortex rings. A tentative classification scheme is proposed for vortex rings which is based on extensive hot-wire measurements of velocity in the ring core and wake, and flow visualization, viz. laminar, wavy, turbulence-producing, and turbulent. Prediction of vortex ring type is shown to be possible, at least approximately, based on the vortex ring Reynolds number alone. Linear growth rates of ring diameter with time are observed for all types of vortex rings, with different growth rates occurring for laminar and turbulent vortex rings. Data on the viscous decay of vortex rings are used to provide experimental confirmation of the accuracy of Saffman's equation for the velocity of propagation of a vortex ring.The work reported herein is supported through a grant of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Special thanks are due to CAPES (Brazil) for the award of a scholarship to the senior author.