Starting vortex

About: Starting vortex is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4785 publications have been published within this topic receiving 100419 citations.

Three-dimensional effects in hovering flapping flight

Abstract: This paper aims at understanding the influence of three-dimensional effects in hovering flapping flight. Numerical simulations at a Reynolds number of 1000 are performed to compare two types of flapping kinematics whose plunging phase is characterized by either a rectilinear translation or a revolving motion. In this way, we are able to isolate the three-dimensional effects induced by the free end condition from that induced by the spanwise incident velocity gradient (and the associated implicit Coriolis and centrifugal effects). In the rectilinear translation case, the analysis of the wake and of the aerodynamic loads reveals that the wingspan can be compartmented into three distinct regions whether it is predominantly subjected to an unstable two-dimensional flow, a stable three-dimensional flow or both two-dimensional and three-dimensional effects. It is found that this partitioning exhibits common features for three different aspect ratios of the wing. In conjunction with the previous results of Ringuette, Milano & Gharib (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 581, 2007, pp. 453–468), this suggests that the influence of the tip vortex over the wingspan is driven by a characteristic length scale. In addition, this length scale matches the position of the connecting point between leading and tip vortices observed in the revolving case, providing insight into the connecting process. In both translating and revolving cases, leading edge vortex attachment and strong spanwise velocities are found to be strongly correlated phenomena. Spanwise velocities (that mostly confine at the periphery of the vortices), together with downward velocities, do not only affect the leading edge vortex but also act as an inhibitor for the trailing edge vortex growth. As a consequence, cross-wake interactions between leading and trailing edge vortices are locally limited, hence contributing to flow stabilization.

A comparison between buoyant vortex rings and vortex pairs

Abstract: In this paper it is shown how earlier results for buoyant vortex rings may be extended to describe the corresponding two-dimensional case, which arises in the theory of bent-over plumes. It is again assumed that in uniform surroundings the circulation remains constant while the buoyancy acts to increase the momentum of the pair. The behaviour in two dimensions is quite different from that in three, however; a buoyant vortex ring spreads linearly with height, whereas a buoyant pair spreads exponentially with height, or linearly with time (and therefore, in a bent-over plume, linearly with distance downwind).The theory has been extended to describe the rise of buoyant rings and pairs through stably stratified surroundings having a linear density gradient. The behaviour near the maximum height reached is found to depend critically in both cases on the relative rates at which the circulation and the momentum fall to zero. If these reach zero together, the rings or pairs will steadily increase in size and come to rest at a finite height and with a finite radius. If the circulation is non-zero when the momentum vanishes, the radius begins to decrease soon after the buoyancy becomes zero, and the vortices will therefore tend to break up suddenly and mix into their surroundings. There is a considerable increase in the final height which should be attained by vortex rings or bentover plumes if the initial circulation is increased; it is suggested that releasing smoke intermittently, rather than continuously, at high velocity might be a means of increasing the effective height of chimneys in calm conditions. When the circulation reaches zero before the momentum does, the solutions indicate that the radius becomes very large near the level of zero buoyancy.

Vortex ring eigen-oscillations as a source of sound

Abstract: Two coupled problems are investigated: a complete description of long-wave vortex ring oscillations in an ideal incompressible fluid, and an examination of sound radiation by these oscillations in a weakly compressible fluid. The first part of the paper relates to the problem of eigen-oscillations of a thin vortex ring (μ < 1) in an ideal incompressible fluid. The solution of the problem is obtained in the form of an asymptotic expansion in the small parameter μ. The complete set of three-dimensional eigen-oscillations and axisymmetric modes (two-dimensional oscillations) is obtained. It is shown that, unlike the vortex column oscillations which have the form of simple angular harmonics, the majority of eigen-oscillations of a thin vortex ring have a more complex form which is a combination of two harmonics in the leading approximation. This leads to dramatic changes in the efficiency of sound radiation produced by modes of the vortex ring in comparison with the corresponding modes of the vortex column. In the second part of the paper the solution obtained is used to investigate the process of sound radiation by vortex perturbations in a weakly compressible fluid. The vortex ring eigen-oscillations are classified according to their sound radiation efficiency. It is shown that the modes with the dimensionless frequency ω 1/2 radiate sound most efficiently. They are two isolated modes, two infinite families of Bessel modes and a set of axisymmetric modes. The frequencies of these modes are in the interval Δω = O(μ). The results obtained are compared with known experimental data on acoustic radiation of a turbulent vortex ring. Within the limits of the theory derived an explanation of the main characteristics of sound radiation is presented.

Turbulence in boundary flow of superfluid 4He triggered by free vortex rings.

Abstract: The transition to turbulence in the boundary flow of superfluid 4He is investigated using a vortex-free vibrating wire At high wire vibration velocities, we found that stable alternating flow around the wire enters a turbulent phase triggered by free vortex rings Numerical simulations of vortex dynamics demonstrate that vortex rings can attach to the surface of an oscillating obstacle and expand unstably due to the boundary flow of the superfluid, forming turbulence Experimental investigations indicate that the turbulent phase continues even after stopping the injection of vortex rings, which is also confirmed by the simulations