The research efforts carried out at ARAP during the past five years in the field of viscous vortex motions are summarized. The work cited constitutes a rather extensive program of theo retical and experimental studies of vortex mo tions in general and of three-dimensional laminar and turbulent incompressible driven vortices in particular. The theoretical studies fall into three general categories; the first and most important comprising velocity distributions for steady laminar motion, the second dealing with unsteady velocity characteristics, and the third treating temperature distributions for the steady motions first considered. An evaluation and discussion of the effects of turbulence in real flows of the general type under consideration is included. The work performed and the results and conclusions reached in each of the areas of study already mentioned are discussed. (Author).

An experimental and computational study of the impact of a vortex with a body oriented normal to the vortex axis was performed. Particular focus was placed on understanding characteristics of the secondary vorticity ejected from the body and the interaction of the secondary vorticity with the primary vortex. Since both onset of boundary layer separation and the form of the secondary vorticity structures are sensitive to variation of the velocity normal to the body axis, the effect of normal velocity on vortex-body interaction was carefully examined. The physical features of the flow evolution were categorized in terms of an impact parameter and a thickness parameter, which respectively represent ratios of velocity and length scales associated with the vortex to those associated with the flow in the absence of the vortex. Experiments were performed using a combination of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) flow visualization and particle-image velocimetry (PIV) in a water tank to examine the form of the secondary vorticity structures with both "high" and "low" values of the impact parameter for normal vortex interaction with a circular cylinder and with a thin blade. A new type of Lagrangian vorticity method based on a tetrahedral mesh was developed and applied to compute the secondary vorticity evolution during vortex-cylinder interaction. Computations were also performed for model problems to examine in detail wrapping of a vortex loop around a columnar vortex and impulsive cutting of a columnar vortex with finite axial flow.

This book opens with a discussion of the vorticity-dynamic formulation of the low Mach number viscous flow problem. It examines the physical aspects of the velocity and the vorticity fields, their instantaneous relationship, and the transport of vorticity in viscous fluids for steady and unsteady flows. Subsequently, using classical analyses it explores the mathematical aspects of vorticity dynamics and issues of initial and boundary conditions for the viscous flow problem. It also includes the evolution of the vorticity field which surrounds and trails behind airfoils and wings, generalizations of Helmholtz’ vortex theorems and the Biot-Savart Law. The book introduces a theorem that relates the aerodynamic force to the vorticity moment and reviews the applications of the theorem. Further, it presents interpretations of the Kutta-Joukowski theorem and Prandtl’s lifting line theory for vorticity dynamics and discusses wake integral methods. The virtual-mass effect is shown to be the seminal event in unsteady aerodynamics and a simple approach for evaluating virtual-mass forces on the basis of vorticity dynamics is presented. The book presents a modern viewpoint on vorticity dynamics as the framework for understanding and establishing the fundamental principles of viscous and unsteady aerodynamics. It is intended for graduate-level students of classical aerodynamics and researchers exploring the frontiers of fully unsteady and non-streamlined aerodynamics.

Viscous flow is treated usually in the frame of boundary-layer theory and as two-dimensional flow. Books on boundary layers give at most the describing equations for three-dimensional boundary layers, and solutions often only for some special cases. This book provides basic principles and theoretical foundations regarding three-dimensional attached viscous flow. Emphasis is put on general three-dimensional attached viscous flows and not on three-dimensional boundary layers. This wider scope is necessary in view of the theoretical and practical problems to be mastered in practice. The topics are weak, strong, and global interaction, the locality principle, properties of three-dimensional viscous flow, thermal surface effects, characteristic properties, wall compatibility conditions, connections between inviscid and viscous flow, flow topology, quasi-one- and two-dimensional flows, laminar-turbulent transition and turbulence. Though the primary flight speed range is that of civil air transport vehicles, flows past other flying vehicles up to hypersonic speeds are also considered. Emphasis is put on general three-dimensional attached viscous flows and not on three-dimensional boundary layers, as this wider scope is necessary in view of the theoretical and practical problems that have to be overcome in practice. The specific topics covered include weak, strong, and global interaction; the locality principle; properties of three-dimensional viscous flows; thermal surface effects; characteristic properties; wall compatibility conditions; connections between inviscid and viscous flows; flow topology; quasi-one- and two-dimensional flows; laminar-turbulent transition; and turbulence. Detailed discussions of examples illustrate these topics and the relevant phenomena encountered in three-dimensional viscous flows. The full governing equations, reference-temperature relations for qualitative considerations and estimations of flow properties, and coordinates for fuselages and wings are also provided. Sample problems with solutions allow readers to test their understanding.

Vortex methods have emerged as a new class of powerful numerical techniques to analyze and compute vortex motion. This book addresses the theoretical, numerical, computational, and physical aspects of vortex methods and vortex motion. Vortex phenomena in fluid flows and the experimental, theoretical, and numerical methods used to characterize them are discussed in reviews by leading experts. Extensive photographs and sample computer graphics are provided. The development of large vortex structure in fluid flow is responsible for some of the most fascinating aspects of fluid dynamics, such as mixing, shearing, transport, and instability. Such issues arise in a variety of flow regimes, ranging from fundamental mathematical questions in laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow to sophisticated engineering settings and devices.