On Vortex Structure in the Wake of a Sphere.

Abstract

This paper presents results showing the three-dimensional vortex shedding structure when a sphere is towed at a constant velocity through a stratified fluid. It is found that for certain Richardon and Reynolds numbers the vortex is shed three-dimensionally. The stratification however quickly inhibits the vertical motion and the initially turbulent wake collapses and reveals the vertically oriented portion of the vortex structure, reminiscent of two-dimensional vortex street behind a circular cylinder when viewed from above. Two branches of a double helix are continuously unwinding in an opposite sense from the formation region. The double helical model satisfies Thompson's circulation theorem.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1975
Accession Number
ADA014061

Entities

People

  • Hsien-ping Pao
  • Timothy W. Kao

Organizations

  • The Catholic University of America

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Collapse
  • Fluid Flow
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Mechanical Phenomena
  • Mechanics
  • Physical Properties
  • Physics
  • Reynolds Number
  • Stratification
  • Stratified Fluids
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional
  • Vortex Shedding
  • Vortices

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.