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Three-dimensional vortex visualization in stratified spin-up

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Abstract

We present the results of three-dimensional time-dependent numerical simulations of incremental spin-up of a thermally stratified fluid. The fluid inside a vertical cylindrical container of radius R and height 2H is water characterized by the kinematic viscosity ν and thermal diffusivity κ. Initially, its density (temperature) varies linearly with height and is characterized by a constant buoyancy frequency N, which is proportional to the density gradient. The system undergoes an abrupt change in the rotation rate from its initial value Ωi, when the fluid is in a solid-body rotation state, to the final value Ωf. The aim of this contribution is to show the formation of columnar vortices in a high Rossby number spin-up flow.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at the University of Texas at Austin and Ira A. Fulton High Performance Computing Initiative at Arizona State University, both members of the NSF-funded Teragrid, for providing HPC and visualization resources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbok, TX, USA

    S. A. Smirnov

  2. School of Mathematics and Statistics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA

    J. R. Pacheco

  3. Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, The University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, 46556, USA

    J. R. Pacheco

  4. Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica, Universita’ di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133, Rome, Italy

    R. Verzicco

Authors
  1. S. A. Smirnov
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  2. J. R. Pacheco
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  3. R. Verzicco
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. R. Pacheco.

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Smirnov, S.A., Pacheco, J.R. & Verzicco, R. Three-dimensional vortex visualization in stratified spin-up. J Vis 13, 81–84 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12650-009-0015-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12650-009-0015-4

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