Off-body flow visualizations and fluid velocity measurements are conducted in a supersonic vortex flow. Three-dimensional laser velocimetry measurements are made in the leeward flowfield over a simple sharp-edged delta wing with 75 degree sweep angle. Tests are conducted at Mach 1.9 and Reynolds number of 2.4 x 10(exp 6) based on model root chord. Measurements are made at 40% and 80% chord positions for 20 and 30 degree angles of attack and at 40% chord for 35 degrees. Mean velocities and turbulence intensities are measured on the five planes. Measurement accuracy is discussed in detail. The measurements define the location of the vortex core and provide the flowfield velocities surrounding the vortex. The difficulties inherent with seeding high velocity vortex flows are discussed ... Laser Velocimetry Measurement of Vortical Flowfields.

From the astrophysical scale of a swirling spiral galaxy, through the geophysical scale of a hurricane, down to the subatomic scale of elementary particles, vortical motion and vortex dynamics have played a profound role in our understanding of the physical world. Kuchemann referred to vortex dynamics as "the sinews and muscles of fluid motion. " In order to update our understanding of vortex dominated flows, NASA Langley Research Center and the Institute for Computer Applications in Science and Engineering (ICASE) conducted a workshop during July 9-11, 1985. The subject was broadly divided into five overlapping topics vortex dynamics, vortex breakdown, massive separation, vortex shedding from sharp leading edges and conically separated flows. Some of the experts in each of these areas were invited to provide an overview of the subject. This volume is the proceedings of the workshop and contains the latest, theoretical, numerical, and experimental work in the above-mentioned areas. Leibovich, Widnall, Moore and Sirovich discussed topics on the fundamentals of vortex dynamics, while Keller and Hafez treated the problem of vortex break down phenomena; the contributions of Smith, Davis and LeBalleur were in the area of massive separation and inviscid-viscous interactions, while those of Cheng, Hoeijmakers and Munnan dealt with sharp-leading-edge vortex flows; and Fiddes and Marconi represented the category of conical separated flows.