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Fluid vortex-type flow

In aerohydrodynamics the significant place is allocated to the theory of vortextype flow flow where vortex of velocity

is not equal to zero.

As it is known, movement of a fluid particle can be divided into three


components: translation, rotation and deformation movement. Rotation of a fluid
around some instant axis is defined by the vortex of velocity. The vortex of
velocity represents a vector of the double instant angular velocity

r
2

(2.36)

If the considered part of fluid is totally whirling, it is possible to speak about the
vortex field: the vector representing angular velocity of fluid particle located at
this place at present time can be drawn for each point in space.

2.6.1. Vortex line. Vortex tube. Vortex core


As streamlines give the concept about field
of velocities, vortex lines give analogous
concept of vortex field.
Vortex line is such line within flow where the
vector of angular velocity

or vector of

vortex of velocity
is directed along
tangent to this line in its each point (fig.
2.14). Vortex lines can change their form and
position in space with time. Vortex lines,
similarly to streamlines, cannot intersect in
the flow: only one vortex line may be drawn
through each point of vortex flow.

Fig. 2.14. Vortex line

It follows from definition of vortex line:

r r
, dr 0
r
r

(2.37)

where
is a radius-vector, determining position of points located on
vortex line with respect to some center.
The differential equations of vortex lines can be written down as follows by
analogy to the differential equations of streamlines

dx
dy
dz

x ( x, y, z, t) y ( x, y, z, t) z ( x, y, z, t)

(2.38)

After substituting the expressions for components of angular


velocity into these equations (2.34) we shall receive the system of
independent differential equations, integration of which gives equations
of vortex lines in the final form.
Generally vortex lines and streamlines do not coincide and can intersect. It is
necessary to note, that the streamline can be ideally drawn in any fluid flow, and
the vortex line can not always and everywhere be drawn. For example in case of
potential flow the angular-velocity vector is equal to zero in all points and vortex
lines in such flow do not exist.
At constant flow vortex lines do not vary with time, similarly to streamlines. If
vortex lines and streamlines coincide, vectors of linear and angular velocities
coincide. Such fluid flow is called helical flow. The equation of helical lines
obtained from a requirement of vector parallelism of linear and angular velocity
vectors has the following form:

V x V y Vz

x y z

If we should draw vortex lines through

each point of some line , which is not


being a vortex line; their combination

would form a vortex surface. If the line


is a closed loop the vortex surface turns
into a vortex tube (fig. 2.15). The vortex
tube together with rotating fluid enclosed
within forms a vortex core. Thin vortex
core is sometimes called a vortex trunk
(vortex line).

Fig. 2.15. Vortex tube

2.6.2. Vortex core strength


Let's consider a thin vortex line (fig. 2.16) and split it by plane
to filament axis.

, perpendicular

Strength or vortex line consumption is determined by velocity vortex flow


through the area of filament section

normal to vortex vector

dI d
or by doubled flow of vortex velocity:

r
dI 2 d

(2.39)

Let's now split the vortex line by plane

, making the arbitrary angle

plane of normal section

with the

. Then the area

dS

of inclined section
will be concerned
with the area of normal section by the
equation:

d dS cos
Fig. 2.16. Explanation of
development of equation of vortex
filament consumption

Let
and

be the normal to the area

r
r
n cos

dS

is the angular rate

component normal to this area.


Taking into account two latest equations we shall write down the expression
(2.39) in more general form:

r r
dI 2( ,n )dS

where

r
n

is the unit vector normal to surface

(2.40)

dS

Strength of vortex line or its consumption can serve as a standard


measure of fluid vorticity happening within the vortex filament.
Consumption of a vortex core is:
r
r r
I ( ,n )dS 2 ( ,n )dS

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