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Two-dimensional flows with zero net momentum: evolution of vortex quadrupoles and oscillating-grid turbulence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2006

S. I. Voropayev
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Krasikova 23, Moscow 117851, Russia
Y. D. Afanasyev
Affiliation:
Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Krasikova 23, Moscow 117851, Russia
G. J. F. van Heijst
Affiliation:
J. M. Burgers Centre for Fluid Mechanics, Department of Technical Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Abstract

The planar flow arising in an initially quiescent viscous fluid under the action of a localized dipolar-type forcing has been studied analytically and experimentally. The force dipole, with non-dimensional forcing amplitude Re, brings net zero momentum into the fluid and gives rise to the formation of a quadrupolar vortex: a system of two dipolar vortices moving apart. Experimentally, the action of a force dipole was modelled by a vertical cylinder oscillating horizontally in the shallow upper layer of a two-layer fluid. Two cases were studied: single quadrupoles and an array of quadrupoles. It is found that single quadrupoles develop in a self-similar manner: the length L and the translation velocity Ū of the quadrupolar vortex change with time as Lt1/2 and Ū ∼ t-1/2. These quantities are characterized by non-dimensional functions α(Re) and β(Re), respectively, which have been determined theoretically for small Re-values and experimentally for Re-values in the range 160–2200.

To produce an array of quadrupoles an array of oscillating vertical rods was used. Two stages in the flow evolution were studied experimentally: the initial stage, when the interactions between the quadrupoles are weak, and the intermediate stage when the interactions play an essential role and the flow is (two-dimensionally) turbulent. It is found that at both stages the width H of the region with intense vortical motions increases with time as Ht1/2. A theoretical explanation of the experimental results is given.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1995 Cambridge University Press

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