The Effect of Surface Tension on the Moore Singularity of Vortex Sheet Dynamics

We investigate the regularization of Moore’s singularities by surface tension in the evolution of vortex sheets and its dependence on the Weber number (which is inversely proportional to surface tension coefficient). The curvature of the vortex sheet, instead of blowing up at finite time t ₀, grows exponentially fast up to a O(We) limiting value close to t ₀. We describe the analytic structure of the solutions and their self-similar features and characteristic scales in terms of the Weber number in a O(We⁻¹) neighborhood of the time at which, in absence of surface tension effects, Moore’s singularity would appear. Our arguments rely on asymptotic techniques and are supported by full numerical simulations of the PDEs describing the evolution of vortex sheets.     

On Howard’s conjecture in heterogeneous shear flow problem

Howard’s conjecture, which states that in the linear instability problem of inviscid heterogeneous parallel shear flow growth rate of an arbitrary unstable wave must approach zero as the wave length decreases to zero, is established in a mathematically rigorous fashion for plane parallel heterogeneous shear flows with negligible buoyancy forcegΒ ≪ 1 (Miles J W,J. Fluid Mech. 10 (1961) 496–508), where Β is the basic heterogeneity distribution function). An erratum to this article is available at .     

Regularising discretizations of the Birkhoff-Rott equation

A thin shear layer moving from the trailing edge of a two-dimensional aerofoil section downstream can be interpreted as a curve of discontinuity for the tangential velocity and may be approximated by a vortex sheet in inviscid, incompressible fluid flow. It is well known that vortex sheets are subject to instabilities of Kelvin-Helmholtz type which lead to roll-up phenomena in the wake. The motion of such sheets is governed by the Birkhoff-Rott equation. In the case of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability it seems clear that a curvature singularity occurs at a certain critical time and that consistent discretizations of the Birkhoff-Rott equation may fail to yield reliable results even before the time of occurrence of a singularity. We discuss the modification of the Biot-Savart kernel in the sense of Krasny who regularized the kernel by means of a global parameter. Using discrete Fourier transform we show the damping influence of this regularization technique. We modify the kernel carefully by introducing a regularization found in ordinary vortex methods and show that reliable results may be obtained up to and slightly after the singularity formation without increasing the accuracy of the computation.     

A comparison theorem

The existence of an explosive singularity in the unsteady boundary layer on a rotating disc in a counter-rotating fluid has now been shown incontrovertibly following the work of K. Stewartson, C. J. Simpson, and R. J. Bodonyi (J. Fluid. Mech.121 (1982), 507–515). Here, we develop some asymptotic results for the governing differential equations to help gain an understanding of the mechanism behind this phenomenon. No definite conclusions are possible, but the presence of inertial oscillations at the edge of the boundary layer could well play a definite role.     

Shooting methods for a PT-symmetric periodic eigenvalue problem

We present a rigorous analysis of the performance of some one-step discretization schemes for a class of PT-symmetric singular boundary eigenvalue problem which encompasses a number of different problems whose investigation has been inspired by the 2003 article of Benilov et al. (J Fluid Mech 497:201–224, 2003). These discretization schemes are analyzed as initial value problems rather than as discrete boundary problems, since this is the setting which ties in most naturally with the formulation of the problem which one is forced to adopt due to the presence of an interior singularity. We also devise and analyze a variable step scheme for dealing with the singular points. Numerical results show better agreement between our results and those obtained from small-ϵ asymptotics than has been shown in results presented hitherto.     

Vortex sheets with reflection symmetry in exterior domains

In this paper we prove the existence of a weak solution of the incompressible 2D Euler equations in the exterior of a reflection symmetric smooth bluff body with symmetric initial flow corresponding to vortex sheet type data whose vorticity is of distinguished sign on each side of the symmetry axis. This work extends the results proved for full plane flow by the authors in [M.C. Lopes Filho, H.J. Nussenzveig Lopes, Z. Xin, Existence of vortex sheets with reflection symmetry in two space dimensions, Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 158 (3) (2001) 235-257].     

Nonlinear instability of a viscous liquid jet

We investigate the weakly nonlinear temporal instability of an axisymmetric Newtonian liquid jet. Early nonlinear studies on the capillary instability of inviscid liquid jets were carried up to the third order contributions to the jet deformation and showed the nonlinear interaction between different modes. A recent study on the weakly nonlinear instability of planar Newtonian liquid sheets revealed the role of the liquid viscosity in the sheet stability behavior and showed a complicated influence [1]. Here, the instability of a liquid jet is examined as the axisymmetric counterpart of the sheet, in search for corresponding insight into the role of the liquid viscosity in the jet instability mechanism. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Bounds on the phase velocity in the linear instability of viscous shear flow problem in the β-plane

Results obtained by Joseph(J. Fluid Mech. 33 (1968) 617) for the viscous parallel shear flow problem are extended to the problem of viscous parallel, shear flow problem in the beta plane and a sufficient condition for stability has also been derived.     

Generalized Contour Dynamics: A Review

Contour dynamics is a computational technique to solve for the motion of vortices in incompressible inviscid flow. It is a Lagrangian technique in which the motion of contours is followed, and the velocity field moving the contours can be computed as integrals along the contours. Its best-known examples are in two dimensions, for which the vorticity between contours is taken to be constant and the vortices are vortex patches, and in axisymmetric flow for which the vorticity varies linearly with distance from the axis of symmetry. This review discusses generalizations that incorporate additional physics, in particular, buoyancy effects and magnetic fields, that take specific forms inside the vortices and preserve the contour dynamics structure. The extra physics can lead to time-dependent vortex sheets on the boundaries, whose evolution must be computed as part of the problem. The non-Boussinesq case, in which density differences can be important, leads to a coupled system for the evolution of both mean interfacial velocity and vortex sheet strength. Helical geometry is also discussed, in which two quantities are materially conserved and whose evolution governs the flow.     

Finite-time Euler singularities: A Lagrangian perspective

We address the question of whether a singularity in a three-dimensional incompressible inviscid fluid flow can occur in finite time. Analytical considerations and numerical simulations suggest high-symmetry flows as promising candidates for finite-time blowup. Utilizing Lagrangian and geometric non-blowup criteria, we present numerical evidence against the formation of a finite-time singularity for the high-symmetry vortex dodecapole initial condition. We use data obtained from high-resolution adaptively refined numerical simulations and inject Lagrangian tracer particles to monitor geometric properties of vortex line segments. We then verify the assumptions made in the analytical non-blowup criteria introduced by Deng et al. [Commun. PDE 31 (2006)] connecting vortex line geometry (curvature, spreading) to velocity increase, to rule out singular behavior.     

The blow‐up criteria of smooth solutions to the generalized and ideal incompressible viscoelastic flow

In this paper, we prove two blow‐up criteria of smooth solution: one for the generalized incompressible Oldroyd model with fractional Laplacian velocity dissipation (?Δ)^αu in the space and one for the inviscid Oldroyd model. Assume that (u(t,x),F(t,x)) is a smooth solution to the generalized Oldroyd model in [0,T); then, the solution (u(t,x),F(t,x)) does not develop singularity until t = T provided . For the ideal impressible viscoelastic flow, it is shown that the smooth solution (u,F) can be extended beyond T if , which is an improvement of the result given by Hu and Hynd (A blowup criterion for ideal viscoelastic flow, J. Math. Fluid Mech., 15(2013), 431–437). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Long time existence for a slightly perturbed vortex sheet

Consider a flat two-dimensional vortex sheet perturbed initially by a small analytic disturbance. By a formal perturbation analysis, Moore derived an approximate differential equation for the evolution of the vortex sheet. We present a simplified derivation of Moore's approximate equation and analyze errors in the approximation. The result is used to prove existence of smooth solutions for long time. If the initial perturbation is of size ? and is analytic in a strip |??m γ| < ρ, existence of a smooth solution of Birkhoff's equation is shown for time t < k2p, if ? is sufficiently small, with κ → 1 as ? → 0. For the particular case of sinusoidal data of wave length π and amplitude e, Moore's analysis and independent numerical results show singularity development at time t^c = |log ?| + O(log|log ?|. Our results prove existence for t < κ|log ?|, if ? is sufficiently small, with k κ → 1 as ? → 0. Thus our existence results are nearly optimal.     

Collisions of Vortex Filament Pairs

We consider the problem of collisions of vortex filaments for a model introduced by Klein et al. (J Fluid Mech 288:201–248, 1995) and Zakharov (Sov Phys Usp 31(7):672–674, 1988, Lect. Notes Phys 536:369–385, 1999) to describe the interaction of almost parallel vortex filaments in three-dimensional fluids. Since the results of Crow (AIAA J 8:2172–2179, 1970) examples of collisions are searched as perturbations of antiparallel translating pairs of filaments, with initial perturbations related to the unstable mode of the linearized problem; most results are numerical calculations. In this article, we first consider a related model for the evolution of pairs of filaments, and we display another type of initial perturbation leading to collision in finite time. Moreover, we give numerical evidence that it also leads to collision through the initial model. We finally study the self-similar solutions of the model.     

Almost optimal convergence of the point vortex method for vortex sheets using numerical filtering

Standard numerical methods for the Birkhoff-Rott equation for a vortex sheet are unstable due to the amplification of roundoff error by the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. A nonlinear filtering method was used by Krasny to eliminate this spurious growth of round-off error and accurately compute the Birkhoff-Rott solution essentially up to the time it becomes singular. In this paper convergence is proved for the discretized Birkhoff-Rott equation with Krasny filtering and simulated roundoff error. The convergence is proved for a time almost up to the singularity time of the continuous solution. The proof is in an analytic function class and uses a discrete form of the abstract Cauchy-Kowalewski theorem. In order for the proof to work almost up to the singularity time, the linear and nonlinear parts of the equation, as well as the effects of Krasny filtering, are precisely estimated. The technique of proof applies directly to other ill-posed problems such as Rayleigh-Taylor unstable interfaces in incompressible, inviscid, and irrotational fluids, as well as to Saffman-Taylor unstable interfaces in Hele-Shaw cells.

     

A New Approach to Free Surface Euler Flows with Capillarity

This article attempts to elucidate the underlying mathematical connection between the well-known exact solutions for the deep water capillary wave problem [ G.D. Crapper , J. Fluid Mech. , 2:532–540 (1957)] and the recent discovery of a very special polar decomposition of solutions for a steadily translating bubble with surface tension [ S. Tanveer , Proc.Roy. Soc. A , 452:1397–1410 (1996)]. This is achieved by describing a new and unified mathematical approach to the two separate physical problems. Using the new approach, Crapper's capillary wave solutions are retrieved in a novel and simplified fashion, while additional analytical insight into the nature of solutions for a steadily-translating bubble is obtained. The new approach is quite general and can also be used to obtain new exact results to other related free surface problems.     

On the potential of spectral methods to solve problems in non-Newtonian fluid mechanics

Spectral techniques for solving problems in non-Newtonian fluid mechanics are introduced. Following the work of Coleman (J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech.; 15 , 227–238 [1984]), the governing equations for the creeping flow of a co-rotational Maxwell fluid are written in terms of the Airy stress function and a stream function. This ensures that the continuity and momentum equations are automatically satisfied. The choice of trial functions for solving a one-dimensional model problem using spectral methods is discussed. Methods for treating unbounded domains and accurately representing reentrant boundary singularities within the spectral context are also considered.     

On the existence of incompressible current–vortex sheets: study of a linearized free boundary value problem

We study the initial boundary value problem resulting from the linearization of the equations of ideal incompressible magnetohydrodynamics and the jump conditions on the hypersurface of tangential discontinuity (current–vortex sheet) about an unsteady piecewise smooth solution. Under some assumptions on the unperturbed flow, we prove an energy a priori estimate for the linearized problem. Since the so‐called loss of derivatives in the normal direction to the boundary takes place even for the constant coefficients linearized problem, for the variable coefficients problem and non‐planar current–vortex sheets the natural functional setting is provided by the anisotropic weighted Sobolev space W₂^1,σ. The result of this paper is a necessary step to prove the local in time existence of solutions of the original non‐linear free boundary value problem. The uniqueness of the regular solution of this problem follows already from the a priori estimate we obtain for the linearized problem. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of rapid changes in a channel bottom on free-surface flows

Two-dimensional non-linear free-surface flows in a channel boundedbelow by an uneven bottom with rapid changes are considered.Numerical solutions are computed by a boundary integral equationmethod similar to that first introduced by King & Bloor(1987, J. Fluid Mech., 182, 193–208). Free-surface flowspast localized disturbances, steps and sluice gates are calculated.In addition, weakly non-linear solutions are discussed.     

Nonlinear evolution of a column swirling jet

The aim of this work is to study the nonlinear temporal evolution of an alternating swirling streaming jet. According to laboratory observations, the viscous dissipation is simulated by means of a phenomenological damping coefficient included in the equation of motion (Jiang et al. in J Fluid Mech 369:273–299, 1998; Wright et al. in J Fluid Mech 402:1–32, 2000) and added to the Bernoulli equation or to the evolution equation. The multiple scales are used for finding out the evolution equations. The fixed points of the solutions have been determined. Really, the modulation concept is exploited in order to analyze the stability criteria in the possible cases of resonance. While in the non-resonant case, the nontrivial solutions are obtained numerically. Different numerical applications have been considered. The studied cases have showed that the Weber number, the phenomenological number and the streamwise circulation play a significant role in determining the dynamics of the developing interfacial patterns.