Helical contour dynamics

ORAL

Abstract

Contour dynamics simulates the evolution of vortices by following the evolution of their boundaries. In its two-dimensional version, the vorticity inside vortices is constant, while in its axisymmetric version, the vorticity is proportional to distance from the axis of symmetry. We investigate helical contour dynamics, for which the flow is invariant along a helical vector. The nonlinear inviscid equations of motion reduce to two advection equations with forcing on the right-hand sides. However, this forcing is only non-zero along the boundaries of vortices for appropriate chosen velocity distributions. This leads to time-dependent vortex sheets on the boundary. The resulting contour dynamics equations are derived and some example cases are studied.

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Presenters

  • Stefan Gregory Llewellyn Smith

    Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UCSD, University of California, San Diego, University of California - San Diego

Authors

  • Stefan Gregory Llewellyn Smith

    Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UCSD, University of California, San Diego, University of California - San Diego

  • Tianyi Chu

    University of California, San Diego

  • Ching Chang

    University of California, San Diego, University of California - San Diego