Micro-organisms encounter heterogeneous viscous environments consisting of networks of obstacles embedded in a viscous fluid medium. In this paper we analyse the characteristics of swimming in a porous medium modelled by the Brinkman equation via a spherical squirmer model. The idealized geometry allows an analytical and exact solution of the flow surrounding a squirmer. The propulsion speed obtained agrees with previous results using the Lorentz reciprocal theorem. Our analysis extends these results to calculate the power dissipation and hence the swimming efficiency of the squirmer in a Brinkman medium. The analytical solution enables a systematic analysis of the structure of the flow surrounding the squirmer, which can be represented in terms of singularities in Brinkman flows. We also discuss the spatial decay of flows due to squirming motion in a Brinkman medium in comparison with the decay in a purely viscous fluid. The results lay the foundation for subsequent studies on hydrodynamic interactions, nutrient transport and uptake by micro-organisms in heterogeneous viscous environments.

A common realisation of superhydrophobic surfaces is based on a periodically grooved solid substrate, with air bubbles trapped in a Cassie state within the grooves. Following Baier, Steffes & Hardt (Phys. Rev. E, vol. 82 (3), 2010, 037301) we consider the thermocapillary flow of a liquid bounded between two such surfaces, driven by a macroscopic temperature gradient. Assuming zero protrusion angle of the free menisci, the periodic geometry is described by two parameters, namely the ratio $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}$ of the groove-array period to the channel depth and the gas fraction $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E5}$ of the surface. The flow and heat transport depend upon both these parameters, as well as the Marangoni number $Ma$, which quantifies the relative magnitudes of advection and conduction. This paper is concerned with the longitudinal problem, where the temperature gradient is applied along the grooves. The temperature within the highly conducting solid substrate varies linearly with distance and may be regarded as prescribed. For any non-zero value of $Ma$, however, advection necessitates the formation of an excess temperature profile in the liquid domain, above and beyond that linearly varying distribution. The associated Marangoni forces, in turn, imply the formation of flow in the cross-sectional plane. The nonlinearly coupled problem governing the excess temperature and cross-sectional flow is independent of the longitudinal flow. Conversely, the latter satisfies an independent problem in the Stokes limit, and accordingly possesses the standard thermocapillary scaling. A simple transformation reveals a linkage between the longitudinal velocity in the present problem and that in the comparable pressure-driven flow. In studying the coupled problems governing the excess temperature and cross-sectional velocity components, we focus upon deep channels, where $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}\ll 1$. Towards this end, we employ matched asymptotic expansions, with two $O(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC})$-deep inner regions adjacent to the surfaces and an outer region in the remaining fluid domain. The small-$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}$ limit is compatible with two possible scalings of $Ma$, the first where it is $O(1)$ and the second where it is $O(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}^{-1})$. In the first scaling, the excess temperature in the outer region is driven by a balance between longitudinal advection and conduction perpendicular to the bounding surfaces. In the inner region, the excess temperature is governed by pure conduction; the cross-sectional flow it animates, which possesses the thermocapillary scaling, is linear in $Ma$. In the second scaling, the cross-sectional velocity becomes $O(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}^{-2/3})$ large relative to the thermocapillary scaling; a boundary layer, of $O(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}^{4/3})$ dimensionless width, is formed within the inner region. In that layer the excess temperature is governed by a dominant balance between conduction perpendicular to the surface and cross-sectional advection. The dependence upon $Ma$ is inherently nonlinear.

Computationally modelling the two-dimensional (2-D) Poiseuille flow along and outside a straight channel with a differential viscoelastic constitutive equation, we demonstrate unstable dynamics involving bifurcations from steady flow to periodic melt fracture (sharkskin instability) and its further transition regime to a chaotic state. The numerical simulation first exposes transition from steady flow to a weak instability of periodic fluctuation, and in the middle of this periodic limit cycle (in the course of increasing flow intensity) a unique bifurcation into the second steady state is manifested. Then, a subcritical (Hopf) transition restoring this stable flow to stronger periodic instability follows, which results from the high stress along the streamlines of finite curvature with small vortices near the die lip. Its succeeding chaotic transition at higher levels of flow elasticity that induces gross melt fracture, seems to take a period doubling as well as quasiperiodic route. By simple geometrical modification of the die exit, we, as well, illustrate reduction or complete removal of sharkskin and melt fractures. The result as a matter of fact suggests convincing evidence of the possible cause of the sharkskin instability and it is thought that this fluid dynamic transition has to be taken into account for the complete description of melt fracture. The competition between nonlinear dynamic transition and other possible origins such as wall slip will ultimately determine the onset of the sharkskin and melt fractures. Therefore, the current study conceivably provides a robust methodology to portray every possible type of melt fracture if combined with an appropriate mechanism that also results in flow instability.

A micro-continuum approach is proposed to simulate the dissolution of solid minerals at the pore scale in the presence of multiple fluid phases. The approach employs an extended Darcy–Brinkman–Stokes formulation that accounts for the interfacial tension between the two immiscible fluid phases and the moving contact line at the mineral surface. The simulation framework is validated using an experimental microfluidic device that provides time-lapse images of the dissolution dynamics. The set-up involves a single-calcite crystal and the subsequent generation of $\text{CO}_{2}$ bubbles in the domain. The dissolution of the calcite crystal and the production of gas during the acidizing process are analysed. We then show that the production of $\text{CO}_{2}$ bubbles during the injection of acid in a carbonate formation may limit the overall dissolution rate and prevent the emergence of wormholes.

The effect of air viscosity on the flow around an insect wing increases as insect size decreases. For the smallest insects (wing length $R$ below 1 mm), the viscous effect is so large that lift-generation mechanisms used by their larger counterparts become ineffective. How the weight-supporting vertical force is generated is unknown. To elucidate the aerodynamic mechanisms responsible, we measure the wing kinematics of the tiny wasp Encarsia formosa (0.6 mm $R$) in hovering or very slow ascending flight and compute and analyse the aerodynamic forces. We find that the insects perform two unusual wing motions. One is ‘rowing’: the wings move fast downward and backward, like stroking oars. The other is the previously discovered Weis-Fogh ‘fling’. The rowing produces 70 % of the required vertical force and the Weis-Fogh ‘fling’ the other 30 %. The oaring wing mainly produces an approximately up-pointing drag, resulting in the vertical force. Because each oaring produces a starting flow, the drag is unsteady in nature and much greater than that in steady motion at the same velocities and angles of attack. Furthermore, our computation shows that if the tiny wasps employed the usual wing kinematics of the larger insects (flapping back and forth in a horizontal plane), the vertical force produced would be only $1/3$ of that by the real wing kinematics; i.e. they must use the special wing movements to overcome the problem of large viscous effects encountered by the commonly used flapping kinematics. We have observed for the first time very small insects using drag to support their weight and we explain how a net vertical force is generated when the drag principle is applied.

Understanding and predicting the behaviour of wind turbine wake flows over hills is important for optimal design of wind-farm configurations on topography. In this study, we present an analytical modelling framework together with large-eddy simulation (LES) results to investigate turbine wakes over two-dimensional hills. The analytical model consists of two steps. In the first step, we deal with the effect of the pressure gradient on the wake evolution; and in the second step, we consider the effect of the hill-induced streamline distortion on the wake. This model enables us to obtain the wake recovery rate, the mean velocity and velocity deficit profiles and the wake trajectory in the presence of the hill. Moreover, we perform LES to test our model and also to obtain new complementary insight about such flows. Especially, we take advantage of the LES data to perform a special analysis of the behaviour of the wake on the leeward side of the hill. It is found that the mainly favourable pressure gradient on the windward side of the hill accelerates the wake recovery and the adverse pressure gradient on the leeward side decelerates it. The wake trajectory for a hill of the same height as the turbine’s hub height is found to closely follow the hill profile on the windward side, but it maintains an almost constant elevation (a horizontal line) downstream of the hilltop. The trajectory of the wake on the leeward side is also studied for a limiting case of an escarpment, and it is shown that an internal boundary layer forms on the plateau which leads to an upward displacement of the wake centre. Finally, a parametric study of the position of the turbine with respect to the hill is performed to further elucidate the effect of the hill-induced pressure gradient on the wind turbine wake recovery.

This experimental study investigates the effect of imposed rotary oscillation on the flow-induced vibration of a sphere that is elastically mounted in the cross-flow direction, employing simultaneous displacement, force and vorticity measurements. The response is studied over a wide range of forcing parameters, including the frequency ratio $f_{R}$ and velocity ratio $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{R}$ of the oscillatory forcing, which vary between $0\leqslant f_{R}\leqslant 5$ and $0\leqslant \unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{R}\leqslant 2$. The effect of another important flow parameter, the reduced velocity, $U^{\ast }$, is also investigated by varying it in small increments between $0\leqslant U^{\ast }\leqslant 20$, corresponding to the Reynolds number range of $5000\lesssim Re\lesssim 30\,000$. It has been found that when the forcing frequency of the imposed rotary oscillations, $f_{r}$, is close to the natural frequency of the system, $f_{nw}$, (so that $f_{R}=f_{r}/f_{nw}\sim 1$), the sphere vibrations lock on to $f_{r}$ instead of $f_{nw}$. This inhibits the normal resonance or lock-in leading to a highly reduced vibration response amplitude. This phenomenon has been termed ‘rotary lock-on’, and occurs for only a narrow range of $f_{R}$ in the vicinity of $f_{R}=1$. When rotary lock-on occurs, the phase difference between the total transverse force coefficient and the sphere displacement, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D719}_{total}$, jumps from $0^{\circ }$ (in phase) to $180^{\circ }$ (out of phase). A corresponding dip in the total transverse force coefficient $C_{y\,(rms)}$ is also observed. Outside the lock-on boundaries, a highly modulated amplitude response is observed. Higher velocity ratios ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{R}\geqslant 0.5$) are more effective in reducing the vibration response of a sphere to much lower values. The mode I sphere vortex-induced vibration (VIV) response is found to resist suppression, requiring very high velocity ratios ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{R}>1.5$) to significantly suppress vibrations for the entire range of $f_{R}$ tested. On the other hand, mode II and mode III are suppressed for $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{R}\geqslant 1$. The width of the lock-on region increases with an increase in $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{R}$. Interestingly, a reduction of VIV is also observed in non-lock-on regions for high $f_{R}$ and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{R}$ values. For a fixed $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}_{R}$, when $U^{\ast }$ is progressively increased, the response of the sphere is very rich, exhibiting characteristically different vibration responses for different $f_{R}$ values. The phase difference between the imposed rotary oscillation and the sphere displacement $\unicode[STIX]{x1D719}_{rot}$ is found to be crucial in determining the response. For selected $f_{R}$ values, the vibration amplitude increases monotonically with an increase in flow velocity, reaching magnitudes much higher than the peak VIV response for a non-rotating sphere. For these cases, the vibrations are always locked to the forcing frequency, and there is a linear decrease in $\unicode[STIX]{x1D719}_{rot}$. Such vibrations have been termed ‘rotary-induced vibrations’. The wake measurements in the cross-plane $1.5D$ downstream of the sphere position reveal that the sphere wake consists of vortex loops, similar to the wake of a sphere without any imposed rotation; however, there is a change in the timing of vortex formation. On the other hand, for high $f_{R}$ values, there is a reduction in the streamwise vorticity, presumably leading to a decreased total transverse force acting on the sphere and resulting in a reduced response.

Previously, we proposed a novel mechanism to produce a nonlinear thermokinetic phenomenon (NTKP) around a metal cylinder in an electrolyte on the basis of analytical discussion. In this study, by using a non-steady direct multi-physics simulation technique based on the Stokes equation coupled with the electroosmotic equation that considers normal diffusion, electrophoresis and thermal diffusion, we directly verify the NTKP and show that the original driving force is the excess ions pressed on the particle by the thermokinetic force and that the NTKP vortex flow around the particle is generated by the interaction between the excess ion and the electric field that is made by the excess ions and/or the Seebeck electric field due to the blocking boundary condition on the wall. Namely, two types of NTKP exist and they are explained in a self-consistent manner by our new theory. In addition, through the discussion of a dielectric particle, we show that the NTKP is a general phenomenon that can be found in both metal and dielectric particles. We believe that our findings provide a new unified viewpoint to understand complex thermokinetic phenomena near metal and dielectric particles.

The deformation of elementary fluid volumes by velocity gradients is a key process for scalar mixing, chemical reactions and biological processes in flows. Whilst fluid deformation in unsteady, turbulent flow has gained much attention over the past half-century, deformation in steady random flows with complex structure – such as flow through heterogeneous porous media – has received significantly less attention. In contrast to turbulent flow, the steady nature of these flows constrains fluid deformation to be anisotropic with respect to the fluid velocity, with significant implications for e.g. longitudinal and transverse mixing and dispersion. In this study we derive an ab initio coupled continuous-time random walk (CTRW) model of fluid deformation in random steady three-dimensional flow that is based upon a streamline coordinate transform which renders the velocity gradient and fluid deformation tensors upper triangular. We apply this coupled CTRW model to several model flows and find that these exhibit a remarkably simple deformation structure in the streamline coordinate frame, facilitating solution of the stochastic deformation tensor components. These results show that the evolution of longitudinal and transverse fluid deformation for chaotic flows is governed by both the Lyapunov exponent and power-law exponent of the velocity probability distribution function at small velocities, whereas algebraic deformation in non-chaotic flows arises from the intermittency of shear events following similar dynamics as that for steady two-dimensional flow.

In this work, the coupled dynamics of the gap flow and the vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a side-by-side (SBS) arrangement of two circular cylinders is numerically investigated at Reynolds numbers $100\leqslant Re\leqslant 500$. The influence of VIV is incorporated by allowing one of the cylinders to vibrate freely in the transverse direction, which is termed as a vibrating side-by-side (VSBS) arrangement. A comparative three-dimensional study is performed between the stationary side-by-side (SSBS) and the VSBS arrangements to examine the characteristics of the complex coupling between the VIV and the gap flow. The results are also contrasted against the isolated configurations without any proximity and gap-flow interference. Of particular interest is to establish a relationship between the VIV, the gap flow and the near-wake instability behind bluff bodies. We find that the kinematics of the VIV regulates the streamwise vorticity concentration, which accompanies a recovery of the two-dimensional hydrodynamic response at the peak lock-in. Moreover, the near-wake instability may develop around an indeterminant two-dimensional streamline saddle point along the interfaces of a pair of imbalanced counter-signed vorticity clusters. The interaction between the imbalanced vorticity clusters and the gap-flow momentum are closely interlinked with the prominence of streamwise vortical structures. In both SSBS and VSBS arrangements, the flip-flopping frequency is significantly low for the three-dimensional flow, except at the VIV lock-in for the VSBS arrangement. While an early onset of VIV lock-in is observed for the vibrating configuration, a quasi-stable deflected gap-flow regime with stably deflected gap flow is found at the peak lock-in. The increase of the gap-flow proximity interference promotes the energy transfer and stabilizes the VIV lock-in. Finally, we employ the dynamic mode decomposition procedure to characterize the space–time evolution of the vortex wake system behind the cylinders.

We investigate the onset of three-dimensional hydrothermal waves in a low-capillary-number liquid layer of arbitrary depth, bounded by a free liquid–gas interface from above and a partial slip, rigid surface from below. A selection of two- and three-dimensional hydrothermal waves, longitudinal rolls and longitudinal travelling waves, form the preferred mode of instability, which depends intricately on the magnitude of the basal slip. Partial slip is destabilizing for all modes of instability. Specifically, the minimal Marangoni number required for the onset of instability follows $M_{m}\sim a(\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}^{-1}+b)^{-c}$ for each mode, where $a,b,c>0$ and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}^{-1}$ is the slip parameter. In the limit of free slip, longitudinal travelling waves disappear in favour of longitudinal rolls. With increasing slip, it is common for two-dimensional hydrothermal waves to exchange stability in favour of longitudinal rolls and oblique hydrothermal waves. Two types of oblique hydrothermal waves appear under partial slip, which exchange stability with increasing slip. The oblique mode that is preferred under no slip persists and remains near longitudinal for small slip parameters.

Squeeze flows in liquid films between a porous disk and an impermeable disk generated by the relative motion of the disks are analysed. Two configurations that differ by the arrangement of (im)permeable external surfaces that bound the porous disk (i.e. not in contact with the liquid film) are considered. Such configurations allow for bearings with tuneable load-bearing characteristics and are also encountered in joint lubrication, adhesion, printing and composite manufacturing. In the present study, flow in the porous disk is governed by Darcy’s law and flow in the liquid film is described using lubrication theory. The present analysis also allows for slip between the liquid film and porous disk. Analytical solutions of the coupled system of equations governing flow in the liquid film and the porous disk are found. Under certain conditions, somewhat unexpected flow patterns are observed in the porous disk. The load-bearing capacity for both configurations is also examined as a function of the permeability and geometry of the permeable disk.

Mach reflection in steady supersonic flow with two incident shock waves is studied. The second incident shock wave is produced by an additional deflection of the wedge lower surface, at some point ensuring that the two incident shock waves would intersect at the reflecting surface in case of normal reflection. Both theory and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are used to study the flow structure and the influence of the second incident shock wave. The overall flow configuration, in case of Mach reflection, is shown to be composed of a triple shock structure, a shock/shock interaction structure and a shock/slipline reflection structure. Similar phenomenon, triggered by a high downstream pressure, has been observed before numerically, but not studied theoretically. The second incident shock wave reflects over the slipline to deflect the slipline more towards the reflecting surface, increasing thus the Mach stem height, advancing the transition of regular reflection to Mach reflection of the first incident shock wave, and causing an inverted Mach reflection below the usual von Neumann condition. A Mach stem height model built for a weak second incident shock wave is used to study the influence of the second incident shock wave on the Mach stem height. Both theory and CFD predict a maximum of the Mach stem height at some additional wedge deflection angle.

We investigate theoretically the near-wall region in elastic turbulence of a dilute polymer solution in the limit of large Weissenberg number. As has been established experimentally, elastic turbulence possesses a boundary layer where the fluid velocity field can be approximated by a steady shear flow with relatively small fluctuations on the top of it. Assuming that at the bottom of the boundary layer the dissolved polymers can be considered as passive objects, we examine analytically and numerically the statistics of the polymer conformation, which is highly non-uniform in the wall-normal direction. Next, imposing the condition that the passive regime terminates at the border of the boundary layer, we obtain an estimate for the ratio of the mean flow to the magnitude of the flow fluctuations. This ratio is determined by the polymer concentration, the radius of gyration of polymers and their length in the fully extended state. The results of our asymptotic analysis reproduce the qualitative features of elastic turbulence at finite Weissenberg numbers.

We investigate perturbations that maximize the gain of disturbance energy in a two-dimensional isolated vortex and a counter-rotating vortex pair. The optimization is carried out using the method of Lagrange multipliers. For low initial energy of the perturbation ($E(0)$), the nonlinear optimal perturbation/gain is found to be the same as the linear optimal perturbation/gain. Beyond a certain threshold $E(0)$, the optimal perturbation/gain obtained from linear and nonlinear computations are different. There exists a range of $E(0)$ for which the nonlinear optimal gain is higher than the linear optimal gain. For an isolated vortex, the higher value of nonlinear optimal gain is attributed to interaction among different azimuthal components, which is otherwise absent in a linearized system. Spiral dislocations are found in the nonlinear optimal perturbation at the radial location where the most dominant wavenumber changes. Long-time nonlinear evolution of linear and nonlinear optimal perturbations is studied. The evolution shows that, after the initial increment of perturbation energy, the vortex attains a quasi-steady state where the mean perturbation energy decreases on a slow time scale. The quasi-steady vortex state is non-axisymmetric and its shape depends on the initial perturbation. It is observed that the lifetime of a quasi-steady vortex state obtained using the nonlinear optimal perturbation is longer than that obtained using the linear optimal perturbation. For a counter-rotating vortex pair, the mechanism that maximizes the energy gain is found to be similar to that of the isolated vortex. Within the linear framework, the optimal perturbation for a vortex pair can be either symmetric or antisymmetric, whereas the structure of the nonlinear optimal perturbation, beyond the threshold $E(0)$, is always asymmetric. No quasi-steady state for a counter-rotating vortex pair is observed.

Informed by large-eddy simulation (LES) data and resolvent analysis of the mean flow, we examine the structure of turbulence in jets in the subsonic, transonic and supersonic regimes. Spectral (frequency-space) proper orthogonal decomposition is used to extract energy spectra and decompose the flow into energy-ranked coherent structures. The educed structures are generally well predicted by the resolvent analysis. Over a range of low frequencies and the first few azimuthal mode numbers, these jets exhibit a low-rank response characterized by Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) type wavepackets associated with the annular shear layer up to the end of the potential core and that are excited by forcing in the very-near-nozzle shear layer. These modes too have been experimentally observed before and predicted by quasi-parallel stability theory and other approximations – they comprise a considerable portion of the total turbulent energy. At still lower frequencies, particularly for the axisymmetric mode, and again at high frequencies for all azimuthal wavenumbers, the response is not low-rank, but consists of a family of similarly amplified modes. These modes, which are primarily active downstream of the potential core, are associated with the Orr mechanism. They occur also as subdominant modes in the range of frequencies dominated by the KH response. Our global analysis helps tie together previous observations based on local spatial stability theory, and explains why quasi-parallel predictions were successful at some frequencies and azimuthal wavenumbers, but failed at others.

Streamwise–wall-normal ($x$–$y$) and streamwise–spanwise ($x$–$z$) plane measurements are carried out by planar particle image velocimetry for turbulent channel flows over anisotropic porous media at the bulk Reynolds number $Re_{b}=900{-}13\,600$. Three kinds of anisotropic porous media are constructed to form the bottom wall of the channel. Their wall permeability tensor is designed to have a larger wall-normal diagonal component (wall-normal permeability) than the other components. Those porous media are constructed to have three mutually orthogonal principal axes and those principal axes are aligned with the Cartesian coordinate axes of the flow geometry. Correspondingly, the permeability tensor of each porous medium is diagonal. With the $x$–$y$ plane data, it is found that the turbulence level well accords with the order of the streamwise diagonal component of the permeability tensor (streamwise permeability). This confirms that the turbulence strength depends on the streamwise permeability rather than the wall-normal permeability when the permeability tensor is diagonal and the wall-normal permeability is larger than the streamwise permeability. To generally characterize those phenomena including isotropic porous wall cases, modified permeability Reynolds numbers are discussed. From a quadrant analysis, it is found that the contribution from sweeps and ejections to the Reynolds shear stress near the porous media is influenced by the streamwise permeability. In the $x$–$z$ plane data, although low- and high-speed streaks are also observed near the anisotropic porous walls, large-scale spanwise patterns appear at a larger Reynolds number. It is confirmed that they are due to the transverse waves induced by the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. By the two-point correlation analyses of the fluctuating velocities, the spacing of the streaks and the wavelengths of the Kelvin–Helmholtz (K–H) waves are discussed. It is then confirmed that the transition point from the quasi-streak structure to the roll-cell-like structure is characterized by the wall-normal distance including the zero-plane displacement of the log-law velocity which can be characterized by the streamwise permeability. It is also confirmed that the normalized wavelengths of the K–H waves over porous media are in a similar range to that of the turbulent mixing layers irrespective of the anisotropy of the porous media.

We study the shape and motion of gas bubbles in a liquid flowing through a horizontal or slightly inclined thin annulus. Experimental data show that in the horizontal annulus, bubbles develop a unique ‘tadpole-like’ shape with a semi-circular cap and a highly stretched tail. As the annulus is inclined, the bubble tail tends to vanish, resulting in a significant decrease of bubble length. To model the bubble evolution, the thin annulus is conceptualised as a ‘Hele-Shaw’ cell in a curvilinear space. The three-dimensional flow within the cell is represented by a gap-averaged, two-dimensional model, which achieved a close match to the experimental data. The numerical model is further used to investigate the effects of gap thickness and pipe diameter on the bubble behaviour. The mechanism for the semi-circular cap formation is interpreted based on an analogous irrotational flow field around a circular cylinder, based on which a theoretical solution to the bubble velocity is derived. The bubble motion and cap geometry is mainly controlled by the gravitational component perpendicular to the flow direction. The bubble elongation in the horizontal annulus is caused by the buoyancy that moves the bubble to the top of the annulus. However, as the annulus is inclined, the gravitational component parallel to the flow direction becomes important, causing bubble separation at the tail and reduction in bubble length.

The complex wake behind two side-by-side flat plates placed normal to the inflow direction has been explored in a direct numerical simulation study. Two gaps, $g=0.5d$ and $1.0d$, were considered, both at a Reynolds number of 1000 based on the plate width $d$ and the inflow velocity. For gap ratio $g/d=0.5$, the biased gap flow resulted in an asymmetric flow configuration consisting of a narrow wake with strong vortex shedding and a wide wake with no periodic near-wake shedding. Shear-layer transition vortices were observed in the wide wake, with characteristic frequency 0.6. For $g/d=1.0$, two simulations were performed, started from a symmetric and an asymmetric initial flow field. A symmetric configuration of Kármán vortices resulted from the first simulation. Surprisingly, however, two different three-dimensional instability features were observed simultaneously along the span of the upper and lower plates. The spanwise wavelengths of these secondary streamwise vortices, formed in the braid regions of the primary Kármán vortices, were approximately $1d$ and $2d$, respectively. The wake bursts into turbulence some $5d$–$10d$ downstream. The second simulation resulted in an asymmetric wake configuration similar to the asymmetric wake found for the narrow gap $0.5d$, with the appearance of shear-layer instabilities in the wide wake. The analogy between a plane mixing layer and the separated shear layer in the wide wake was examined. The shear-layer frequencies obtained were in close agreement with the frequency of the most amplified wave based on linear stability analysis of a plane mixing layer.

We compute the drag force on a sphere settling slowly in a quiescent, linearly stratified fluid. Stratification can significantly enhance the drag experienced by the settling particle. The magnitude of this effect depends on whether fluid-density transport around the settling particle is due to diffusion, to advection by the disturbance flow caused by the particle or due to both. It therefore matters how efficiently the fluid disturbance is convected away from the particle by fluid-inertial terms. When these terms dominate, the Oseen drag force must be recovered. We compute by perturbation theory how the Oseen drag is modified by diffusion and stratification. Our results are in good agreement with recent direct numerical simulation studies of the problem.