ELSEVIER

Evolution of Vorticity in Perturbed Flow

in a Pipe
J. T. Stuart • Flows in long pipes often include "slugs" or "puffs" of complex or chaotic
Department of Mathematics, Imperial College, patterns interspersed with regions of relative calm. A similar phenomenon
London, SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom can occur in boundary layers, where "turbulent spots" can exist between
rather calm regions of flow, especially in regions of transition from a
laminar flow to a turbulent form. The vorticity field plays a significant role
in these phenomena, and it is an aim of this paper to examine this feature
from a point of view that might be thought to be unusual.
Some forty years ago, G. 1. Taylor initiated his theory of dispersion of a
contaminant in the flow in a long pipe. He showed that a combination of
longitudinal (axial) convection by the flow coupled with radial diffusion by
molecular (or by turbulent) action produces an effective longitudinal diffu-
sion process, which is governed approximately by the usual one-dimen-
sional diffusion equation. Astonishingly, the effective longitudinal diffusiv-
ity coefficient depends inversely on the molecular (or turbulent or eddy)
diffusivity. This remarkable phenomenon is now known as Taylor diffusion
and has been much studied both experimentally and theoretically over the
intervening forty years.
The object of this paper is to study the development of vorticity in the
flow in a pipe, with the vortieity treated as if it were a passive contaminant
on a longitudinal flow through the pipe. In general, this requires an
approximation, because the interaction between the velocity and vorticity
fields is ignored. But, in a particular case--namely, that of a small swirling
vortex perturbation on a flow in a p i p e - - a theoretical construction be-
comes possible in which the major approximation is simply that of lin-
earization for small perturbation amplitudes.
As a result, it is found that the swirl amplitude satisfies a one-dimen-
sional diffusion equation, just as it does for a scalar contaminant in Taylor's
classical work. There is, however, a significant difference in our problem of
the evolution of vorticity or swirl: the effective longitudinal diffusion
coefficient, which, like Taylor's, depends inversely on the molecular diffu-
sivity, changes sign at a particular value of the Reynolds number. Thus, for
Reynolds numbers lower than the critical value, the effective longitudinal
diffusion coefficient is positive; in contrast, it is negative for Reynolds
numbers larger than the critical value. The latter result implies that a
focusing takes place instead of dispersion. The implications of this are
discussed. © Elsecier Science Inc., 1996

Keywords: Vorticity, pipe flow, slug, puff, turbulent spot, Taylor

diffusion, swirl

Address correspondence to J. T. Stuart, Department of Mathematics, Imperial College, London, SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom.
Experimental Thermaland Fluid Science 1996; 13:206-210
© Elsevier Science Inc,, 1996 0894-1777/96/$15.00
655 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10010 PII S0894-1777(96)00081-7
 Vorticity in Perturbed Pipe Flow 207

INTRODUCTION W e note that an eigensolution is

Osborne Reynolds [1] observed turbulent p h e n o m e n a in C = C = constant• (4)

the flow in a pipe m o r e than a century ago and was the O u r object now is to consider a situation in which C is
first to set the study of turbulence into a rational frame- thought to vary slowly in space and time according to Eqs.
work both experimentally and theoretically• H e noticed (1) and (2)• To this end, and noting the natural diffusive
especially the occurrence of slugs of turbulence inter- aspect of the problem, we define
spersed with regions of calmer (laminar) flow. Over the
decades, much work on such p h e n o m e n a has been associ- 7" = a 2t, (5)
ated with the names of Taylor [2], Wygnanski and ¢ = 6 ( z - ct), (6)
C h a m p a g n e [3], Coles [4], Bandyopadhyay [5], and others•
A n apparently related p h e n o m e n o n is that of a turbu- where c5 is a small p a r a m e t e r and c is a propagation
lent spot in a b o u n d a r y layer, as m a d e evident by the work speed, which must be determined. Now C will be required
of E m m o n s [6], Schubauer and Klebanoff [7], Perry et al. to d e p e n d on 7" and f.
[8], H e a d and Bandyopadhyay [9], Cantwell et al. [10], and Equation (1) becomes
others. OC OC
P h e n o m e n a of the type described have in c o m m o n a 62 + 6(1 - r e - c ) - -
property of coherence whereby the vorticity, which is
Or Of
associated with the turbulent slug or spot, is somehow 02C 1 OC 2 ~T02C )
c o m p a c t e d and prevented from diffusing to greater length = 0-,--'---;- + - - - - +6 , (7)
scales• H o w does this h a p p e n ? W h a t are the processes r Or
that can encourage coherence and confinement? It is this and we expand the solution as follows:
p r o b l e m that is addressed here. A particular mechanism
will be discussed, one that is related to the p h e n o m e n o n C = C(r,r, f) + 6Cl(r,r,f) + 62C2(r,r,f) + ...
of Taylor diffusion of a contaminant in flow in a pipe. To (8)
be sure, our p r o b l e m is truly a nonlinear one, whereas
Taylor's is linear• F o r the time being, we shall ignore the Substituting Eq. (8) in Eq. (7) and separating terms of
nonlinearity by considering the case of a particular com- orders 6 o, 6, c5", we obtain a sequence of problems.
ponent of vorticity, which is supposed to be infinitesimal
in magnitude•
02C 1 0C
At O(6°): 0 = + - - - , (9)
Before going over to our problem, we need to give brief Or 2 r Or
attention to and explanation of Taylor diffusion• In subse- of which the solution subject to Eq. (2) is
quent sections, we shall return to a study of the evolution
of vorticity. C = C(r, f ) ; (10)
thus C does not d e p e n d on r.
TAYLOR DIFFUSION
OC [ 02C1 10C a ]
Taylor [11] considered flow in a long pipe of circular cross At 0(6): (1-r 2-c) Off = ° ' t 7 + -r Or ]" (11)
section, with an application in mind of the transport of oil
over distances of the o r d e r of thousands of kilometers• 0C 1
H o w does an interface evolve between two grades or types = 0; r = 1. (12)
of oil? How do they merge over long distances? 0r
Consider a pipe of radius a with a laminar flow U0(1 - Problem Eq. (11) subject to Eq. (12) has a solution only if
r e) down the pipe, where lengths are scaled on a and time an orthogonality condition is s a t i s f i e d - - n a m e l y ,
on a / U o. (In practice, as Taylor [12] observed, a turbulent
0C
velocity field would be more realistic and would involve a
turbulent or eddy diffusivity rather than the molecular
diffusivity). The equation for transport and diffusion of
f0 1(1 - r 2 - c)r
0f
dr = 0. (13)

the contaminant C(r, t) is Because C is i n d e p e n d e n t of r, we have from Eq. (13)

c = 1/2, (14)
(~C 0C ( 6~2C 1 0C 02C t
-- + (1 --r2) - = 0- - - + ---- + (1) the propagation speed being equal to the mean velocity of
Ot Oz Or 2 r Or OZ 2 ] '
the given flow.
with conditions Because the flux is given and we allow it to be given by
C'(7-, f ), we have
OC
= 0, r = 1; C is regular. (2)
Or olrC1 dr = 0; (15)
Also the flux is given in an a p p r o p r i a t e moving reference
frame, and an initial condition is n e e d e d at t = 0. In Eq. then Eqs. (11), (12), and (15) imply that
(1), the symbols t, r, and z represent nondimensional time 0C
and radial and axial distances, while C 1 = (80-) 1(-1/3 +r 2- 1 / 2 r 4) (16)
oC
0- = D / U o a , (3)
So far, we have not obtained any condition on i f ( r , f ), but
D being the molecular diffusivity. this will arise at next order•
208 J.T. Stuart

At O(62), an equation analogous to Eq. (11) arises, but (or diminution) of vorticity by processes of vortex stretch-
with C 2 in place of Ca_and with a left-hand side depen- ing and tilting, both of which are associated with conserva-
dent on r, Off/O~, 0 2 C / 0 ~ 2. A n orthogonality condition tion of angular m o m e n t u m in a gyroscopic sense.
is required to be satisfied analogous to Eq. (13) in which C To make some progress and to illustrate the point, we
appears as a parameter. As a result, a differential equa- shall now consider a rather special problem for which
tion for C(z, ~") appears: linearization is acceptable for a perturbation of small
amplitude.
oe (~r + - -1toga = 0. (17)
We consider flow through a straight pipe of uniform
0~" 192o- ] 0~"2 circular cross section and radius a - - n a m e l y , Hagen-
Poiseuille flow. U p o n this flow, a swirl perturbation is
Equation (17) is a classical diffusion equation; its effec- imposed, and this is assumed to be of small amplitude. If
tive diffusion coefficient is composed of two terms, one denotes the circulation, which can be a function of
representing molecular diffusion and the other Taylor radial distance (r), axial distance (z), and time, then 1~
diffusion. In the latter term, we note that the molecular satisfies the linear differential equation
diffusivity arises in an inverted way; this is a consequence
of longitudinal (axial) convection allied simultaneously to 0~'~ 0~'~ ( 02~ 1 0~ ~02~ 1
-- + (1 - r 2) =R 1 __ _
radial molecular diffusion (Taylor, Ref. 11). The foregoing 3t Oz 3r 2 r ~F -~- Oz 2 )"
form of the mathematical explanation is taken from the
thesis of Jefferson [13]. Much work has been done by (25)
others in the intervening years.
Boundary conditions are that
If we choose to write Eq. (17) in dimensional terms, we
have 1~ = 0 , r= 1, (26)
Off ( U~2a2 ] 0 2 C and 1~ is regular. A n initial condition is also needed at
D + = 0, (18) t=0.
OT 192D ] As for the case of Taylor diffusion, we now consider
where long time (of order 8 -2) and axial length (of order 8 -1)
scales, where 8 is a small parameter. Thus, we define
Z = az - 1 / 2 U o T , T = a t / U o. (19)
7" = 82t, ~ = 8(Z - ct), (27)
In Eqs. (17) or (18), we see that the Taylor diffusion term
is bigger and m o r e important if where c is a propagation speed.
A n eigensolution for 1~ is
Uoa
cr I = > 14. (20) = rJl(Ajr)e- ~t/n, (28)
D
In practice, as Taylor observed, a turbulent velocity where J l ( x ) is the Bessel function of o r d e r 1 and Aj
profile would be required together with an eddy (or turbu- ( j = 1, 2, 3 . . . . . w) represents the zeros of that function:
lent) diffusivity (D). This would alter the coefficients in
Eqs. (17) and (18) but not the essentials of the structure. J~(x) = 0, j = 1,2, 3 . . . . . oo. (29)
In terms of t, ~-, r, ~" variables, Eq. (25) becomes
E V O L U T I O N O F V O R T I C I T Y IN P I P E
FLOW R + 62R + 8R(1 - r 2 - c ) - -
3t 3T 3~
Evolution of a fluid field involves the velocity and the
vorticity, both of which are vector fields, and the pressure 02~ 1 31) 321~
and the density, both of which are scalars. If the fluid is - - Jr- 8 2 - (30)
o~r 2 r OF oq~ 2 "
incompressible and if the pressure is eliminated from the
Navier-Stokes equations, we have Bearing in mind that Eq. (28) can be multiplied by an
0¢o arbitrary constant S, which we may take to be a function
-- + U" Vw = to" V u + R - 1 V 2 w , (21) of the slow variables T and ~', and noting our analogy with
Ot Taylor diffusion, we expand 1~ as follows:
V. u = 0, (22)
1) = S ( " c , ~ ) ~ ( t , r ) + 61~l(t,r;"r, ~ )
~o = curl u. (23)
+ 6 2 1 ) 2 ( t , r ; ~ - , ~ ") + - - ' (31)
Here, u is the nondimensional velocity field (scaled on
U0) , to is the vorticity field (Uo/a), t is the time ( a / U o ) , W e now separate terms of increasing order in 6 as in the
and section on Taylor diffusion.
A t o r d e r 60, we find that S d e p e n d s only on ~- and ~" as
R = Uoa/V (24)
assumed.
is the Reynolds number, where v is the kinematic viscosity A t o r d e r 6, we obtain an equation for 1)1:
(molecular) and a is a characteristic length.
It is clear that the vorticity, ~o, is not transported 31~ a _ 3S c)2~1 01) 1
R +R(1 -r 2-c)~ - , (32)
passively for two reasons: (1) Eq. (23) connects to with the 3t Off Or 2 Or
velocity field u; and (2) the first term on the right-hand
side of Eq. ( 2 1 ) - - n a m e l y , ~o- V u - - g i v e s an e n h a n c e m e n t 1~ 1 = 0, r = 1; 1) 1 regular. (33)
 Vorticity in Perturbed Pipe Flow 209

An integrability condition then yields and let K = - k < 0 and /x2 > 0. Then a solution to Eq.
(35) subject to Eqs. (39) and (40) is
c = 2/3, (34)
which is not the mean flow speed of Taylor diffusion;
rather it is the group velocity of small perturbations. A
S = a(1 - 4ktz2"r)-l/2e-~Z~E/(1-4k~2r) (41)

solution for 1) 1 subject to Eq. (33) then follows.

At order 6 2, we obtain an equation for II2, which is We consider two possible limits:
analogous to Eq. (32), and an integrability condition yields 1. Suppose that sr is fixed and is nonzero, and let r
an equation for S(~-, ~'): (4k/x2)-1 from below. Then S ~ 0.
o~S oq 2 S 2. Suppose that ~'2/(1 -4k/~2~ -) is held fixed and let
-- - K = 0; (35) ~- -~ (4k/x2) -1 from below. Then S ~ ~.
Or O~ 2
The implications of these two results are important and
R far reaching. They imply a concentration and focusing
K = R -1 + 15A; (8 - 1 / 3 t 2 ) . (36)
with an associated amplification. This is an artefact of
what is mathematically an ill-posed problem. It does pro-
The effective diffusion coefficient K, which is analogous vide one mechanism, however, by which a slug of vorticity
to the coefficient in Eq. (17), here plays a more complex (simplified as the swirl in the present case) can be made
role than in the case of Taylor diffusion: more coherent and any interface maintained or sharpened
1. K depends on Aj ( j = 1,2,3 . . . . ), or namely, on the even against the natural diffusive processes.
eigenvalue of the swirl. Application of this type of theory to turbulent flow
2. K may change sign, thus allowing the possibility of would require changes in the mean velocity field and in
negative diffusion. This change of sign occurs at a the diffusivity, which would need to take on an "eddy"
critical value R c ( j ) of the Reynolds number, as Table 1 form, analogous to that of Taylor [12] for Taylor diffusion.
indicates. In that table, the values of Aj have been The effect of this on the critical Reynolds number R c ( j )
truncated at two decimal places and those of R e ( j ) at for a reversal sign of the effective diffusion parameter K
two significant figures. For a given value of j, K is would be of some interest, as was pointed out to the writer
negative for R > R e ( j ) and the effective diffusion pro- by Professor G. M. Lilley.
cess is negative.
If we revert to a dimensional notation, Eqs. (35) and PRACTICAL SIGNIFICANCE
(36) can be put in the equivalent form There remains the complex matter of the relevance of
c9S( v + U2a2( 8 - 1/3A 2)
) 02S = 0, (37)
these ideas to actual turbulent slugs or puffs. Why are
they coherent and confined? What are the structures? We
or need to know more of such phenomena and to better
where understand the possible mechanics by which the spatial
coherence and confinement is really achieved. Much more
Z = az - 2 / 3 U o T , T = a t / U o. (38) work is needed of both an experimental and a theoretical
Equation (37) is analogous to Eq. (18) for Taylor diffu- nature; but it is hoped that the relatively simple analysis
sion. As in the latter case, we note that the effective of this paper provides a contribution to this endeavor.
diffusion coefficient is composed of two parts, the first
being that of kinematic viscosity and the second being CONCLUSIONS
derived from axial convection allied to radial diffusion. In
the second term, the kinematic viscosity appears in an The application of the concept of Taylor diffusion has led
inverted form, just as it does in Taylor diffusion. to an interesting result when applied to a dynamical
variable such as the circulation. The effective diffusion
NEGATIVE DIFFUSION AND FOCUSING parameter can become negative if the Reynolds number is
greater than a critical value. This means that a "focusing"
Here, we give some attention to the problem posed by Eq. and concentration are developed in contrast with the
(35) when K is negative. Suppose we impose normal diffusion process of smoothing and spreading. We
note, however, that in the present case the circulation is
r=O, S =ae 2~2, (39) naturally decaying in time, so the negative diffusion acts
[~'[ ~ o% S --* 0 , (40) so as to cause a focusing and concentration within the
decaying patch of vorticity or circulation.
It would be desirable to improve and develop the stud-
Table 1. Critical Reynolds Numbers for a Change ies made in the present paper so as to include nonlinear
of Sign of the Effective Diffusion Coefficient K of Eq. (35), effects. One possibility that intrigues the present writer
dependent on the Integer j and the Corresponding Zero concerns the treatment of the neutral nonaxisymmetric
of the Bessel Function flow perturbation of Hagen-Poiseuille flow (Smith and
j 1 2 3 4 Bodonyi, Ref. 14). Would this be amenable to the present
type of analysis? This remains to be answered.
RAi
"c (J) 3.83
_ 667.02 78
10.17 96
13.32 Naturally, an attempt to discuss any turbulent situation
would also require nonlinearity to be introduced. Again,
Note that K < 0 for R > Re(j). this is a question that may be answered in the future.
210 J.T. Stuart
In general, however, we note that direct numerical
simulation may prove to be a powerful and relevant tool
in treating any nonlinear aspect of this general problem,
whether turbulent or otherwise. This could arise and be
valuable in the calculation of a neutral but nonlinear
eigensolution, an example being the Smith-Bodonyi solu-
tion, mentioned above. Direct numerical simulation could
furthermore be of immense value in the treatment of
perturbations from the nonlinear eigensolution. It would
be very interesting to pursue this route of direct numerical
simulation.
This paper is dedicated with pleasure to Peter Bradshaw, whose work
on turbulence has been so influential and whose 60th birthday took
place on December 26, 1995.
NOMENCLATURE
a radius of pipe, m
C concentration of contaminant, dimensionless
C mean of C, 2 f l r C d r , dimensionless
C~ and C 2 perturbations of C, dimensionless
c propagation speed, dimensionless
D diffusivity of C, m 2 / s
Jl(x) Bessel function of a variable x; of order 1;
dimensionless
J integer l, 2, 3 , . . . , ~, dimensionless
K effective diffusivity of circulation, dimension-
less
k - K , dimensionless
R Reynolds number = U o a / v , dimensionless
Rc(j) critical Reynolds number, dependent on j,
dimensionless
S amplitude of circulation, dimensionless
r radial distance, dimensionless
T time, s
t TUo/a , time, dimensionless
clo maximum flow velocity, m / s
u velocity vector, dimensionless
x function variable in Bessel function, dimen-
sionless
Z az - cUoT, propagation variable, m
z axial distance, dimensionless
6 small parameter, dimensionless
Aj jth zero of Jl(x): J1(A,) = 0, dimensionless
tx parameter, dimensionless
u 14. Smith, F. T., and Bodonyi, R. J., Amplitude-dependent Neutral
kinematic viscosity, m 2 / s
8 ( z - ct), propagation variable, dimension-
less
D / U o a , diffusivity of C, dimensionless
T 6 2r, slow time variable, dimensionless
12 circulation, dimensionless
eigensolution for f~, dimensionless
~1,~2 perturbations of 12, dimensionless
09 vorticity vector, dimensionless
V gradient operator, dimensionless
REFERENCES
1. Reynolds, O., An Experimental Investigation of the Circum-
stances Which Determine Whether the Motion of the Water
Shall Be Direct or Sinuous, and of the Law of Resistance in
Parallel Channels, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., LondonA 174, 935-982,
1883.
2. Taylor, G. I., in Modem Developments in Fluid Dynamics, S.
Goldstein, Ed., pp. 324-325, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1938, and
Dover, New York, 1982.
3. Wygnanski, I. J., and Champagne, F. H , On Transition in a Pipe:
Part I, The Origin of Puffs and Slugs and the Flow in a Turbulent
Slug, J. Fluid Mech., 59, 281-335, 1973.
4. Coles, D., Prospects for Useful Research on Coherent Structures
in Turbulent Shear Flow, Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Eng. Sci.), 4,
111-127, 1981.
5. Bandyopadhyay, P. R., Aspects of the Equilibrium Puff in Transi-
tional Pipe Flow, J. Fluid Mech., 163, 439 458, 1986.
6. Emmons, H. W., The Laminar-Turbulent Transition in a Bound-
ary Layer, Part I, J. Aero. Sci., 18, 490-498, 1951.
7. Schubauer, G. B., and Klebanoff, P. S., Contributions on the
Mechanics of Boundary-Layer Transition, N.A.C.A. Report 1289,
Washington, 1955. (See also Rosenhead, L., Ed., Laminar Bound-
ary Layers, pp. 577-578, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1963).
8. Perry, A. E., Lim, T. T., and Teh, E. W., A Visual Study of
Turbulent Spots, J. Fluid Mech., 104, 387-405, 1981.
9. Head, M. R., and Bandyopadhyay, P. R., New Aspects of Turbu-
lent Boundary-Layer Structure, J. Fluid Mech., 107, 297-338,
1981.
10. Cantwell, B., Coles, D., and Dimotakis, P., Structure and En-
trainment in the Plane of Symmetry of a Turbulent Spot, Report,
Calif. Inst. Tech. 1977.
11. Taylor, G. I., Dispersion of Soluble Matter in Solvent Flowing
Slowly through a Tube, Proc. Roy. Soc., LondonA 119, 186-203,
1953.
12. Taylor, G. I., The Dispersion of Matter in Turbulent Flow
through a Pipe, Proc. Roy. Soc., London A 123, 446-468, 1954.
13. Jefferson, R. J., Some Aspects of Flow and the Diffusion of
Contaminant in Pipes, Ph.d. Thesis, Mathematics Dept., Imperial
College, London, 1977.
Modes in the Hagen-Poiseuille Flow through a Circular Pipe,
Proc. Roy. Soc., London A 384, 463-489, 1982.
Received March 13, 1996; revised June 12, 1996