Abstract
The dynamics of the three-dimensional evolution of coherent vortical structures forming in moderate Reynolds number free, shear flows is discussed. Laboratory experiments of the evolution of transitional plane mixing layers, wakes and axisymmetric jets, developing from initially laminar conditions, subjected to temporal and spatially varying periodic perturbations are analyzed by means of an inviscid vortex dynamics model of the evolution of one or several layers of vortex filaments in which the initial vorticity is discretized. For planar and axisymmetric flow configurations, the formation and evolution of streamwise vortex tubes and their interaction with the primary, two-dimensional, coherent vortical structure is analyzed. The symmetry features and the topological transitions of the three-dimensional vorticity field resulting from the growth of the initial perturbations is studied for both the planar and axisymmetric cases.
Comparison between the experimental results and the numerical simulations indicates that important features of the three-dimensional evolution of the large scale vortical structures can be reproduced by inviscid vortex dynamics. Vortex stretching in the braid regions appears to be the primary mechanism for the formation of concentrated streamwise vorticity in free shear flows such as mixing layers, wakes and jets.
Several topological modes of the evolving three-dimensional vorticity field having different symmetry properties are shown to exist in both mixing layers and wake flows.
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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Lasheras, J.C., Meiburg, E. (1991). On the Three-Dimensional Dynamics of Coherent Vortical Structures Forming in Free, Shear Flows. In: Metais, O., Lesieur, M. (eds) Turbulence and Coherent Structures. Fluid Mechanics and Its Applications, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7904-9_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7904-9_6
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