Numerical Analysis of Single-Vortex/Free-Surface Interaction

Abstract

The interaction of a single Lamb vortex with a free surface is analyzed numerically through the use of a finite-difference technique. The individual effects of gravity, viscosity, and surface tension are investigated within the range of the applicability of the phenomenon and the code used. The vortex is allowed to build up to its full strength in a relatively small time and then the evolution of the free surface, streamlines, and other details of the flow are calculated. The results have shown that the smaller the proximity of the vortex to the free surface, the larger the scar produced on its down-wash side. The effect of the surface tension is to reduce the amplitude of the free surface elevation. The viscous effects appear to be relatively small even though the calculations are, out of necessity, confined to a limited range of the governing parameters, as in all finite difference calculations. Surface disturbances, Scars, Trailing vortices, CFD.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA276462

Entities

People

  • Craig F. Merrill

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computer Programs
  • Engineering
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Fluid Flow
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Froude Number
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Incompressible Flow
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Naval Architecture
  • Numerical Analysis
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Reynolds Number
  • Steady State
  • Trailing Vortices

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.