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Small-scale structure in colliding off-axis vortex rings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2006

G. B. Smith  and
T. Wei
G. B. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855-0909, USA
T. Wei
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855-0909, USA
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Abstract

Off-axis collisions of equal-strength vortex rings were experimentally examined. Two equal-strength vortices were generated which moved toward each other along parallel, but offset, trajectories. Two colour laser-induced fluorescence visualization techniques were used to observe these phenomena and gain insight into their importance in vortex interactions. The most prominent features of this interaction were rapid growth and rotation of the rings and formation of evenly spaced ringlets around the cores of the original rings. Large-scale motions are described using simple vortex induction arguments. The small scales are caused by nonlinear amplification of instabilities during the asymmetric interaction.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 259 , 25 January 1994 , pp. 281 - 290
Copyright
© 1994 Cambridge University Press

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References

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