Lecture 4: Vorticity and circulation

4.1 Denition of vorticity and circulation We dene the vorticity as the curl of the velocity eld: = u. (4.1)

The vorticity can be measured by placing a paddle wheel into the ow, which spins at a rate /2:
/2

The circulation around a closed contour, C, is dened as the line integral of the velocity along that contour: C =
C

u dl =
S

dS,

(4.2) Some further examples: a. solid body rotation, |u| r; b. line vortex, |u| 1/r.

where S is an arbitrary surface bounded by C. Vorticity measures the local spin of a uid parcel about its own axis. For simplicity, consider a 2-dimensional ow in the x y plane, u = (u, v, 0), so that = (0, 0, ) where = v u . x y

For example, a uid element both moves and is deformed by a shear ow: a. The ow rotates as a solid body the uid parcels are not deformed and the paddle wheels spins about its own axis once per circuit of the

<0 initial later

vortex. b. = 0: an example of an irrotational ow see Lecture 5. The spin associated with the curvature of the ow is completely oset by

The clockwise sense of rotation of the uid parcel about its own centre of mass corresponds to negative vorticity: = u/y < 0.
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an opposing spin from the shear of the vortex the paddle wheel circulates around the vortex but does not spin about its own axis.
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4.2 Derivation of the vorticity equation We start with the Navier Stokes equation (allowing to vary but 1 u +u u+ p + g k = 2u. t Using the vector identity u u= uu +( 2 u) u, u = 0):

4.3 Baroclinic production of vorticity The term 1 p= 2 p

represents the baroclinic production of vorticity. This vanishes when the and p surfaces coincide with each other:

u.

We form a vorticity equation by taking the curl of the momentum equation: 1 + ( u) + p = 2. t To continue we need to use the following vector identities: ( u) = ( u) ( 1 p = )u u( ) + (u 1 p. ),

Thus to get baroclinic production of vorticity, we require an angle between the and p surfaces:
1 p

Using the above, we can rewrite the vorticity equation in its nal form: 1 D = p + ( )u + 2. (4.3) Dt Thus the rate of change of absolute vorticity following a uid parcel is determined by several terms on the right-hand side of this equation. We will now consider each of these terms in turn.
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p surface surface

The simplest example of a ow generated through the baroclinic producFFC 4-4

u) = 0,

u = 0.

We also have:

p 1

we can rewrite the momentum equation as: uu 1 u +u+ + p+gk = t 2

p surface

surface

tion of vorticity is a density current:

4.4 Stretching and tilting The term

+
First some denitions: Examples of density currents include sea breezes formed as a result of a temperature gradient between the air over the land and over the sea, the descent of salty, dense water from the Mediterranean as it ows into the Atlantic, and particle laden ows such as avalanches and pyroclastic ows.

)u

represents the stretching and tilting of vortex tubes.

At any instant a vortex line (cf. magnetic eld line) is dened as a line that points in the direction of the vorticity vector . A vortex tube is formed from a bundle of vortex lines:

The ux of vorticity through the tube (the strength of the tube) is tube =
C

u dl =
S

dS = C .

Pyroclastic ow on Mayon Volcano, Philippines (http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/)

It can be shown that if = 0 then the vortex tube and vortex lines moves with the uid ow (e.g., Acheson, pp. 162-4). This is a consequence of Kelvins circulation theorem end of this lecture.

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Now returning to stretching and tilting of vortex tubes, consider an incompressible vortex tube which is initially vertical: ( )u = (z) u v w u = (z) i + (z) j + (z) k. z z z z tilting stretching

Stretching of a vortex tube:

initial ?

final ?

vortex lines

w w z z

stretch

Tilting of a vortex tube:

initial ? final ?

As the vortex tube is stretched vertically, so it must contract horizontally

vortex lines

u u z z

tilt

to satisfy continuity. Thus, the vortex lines move closer together, increasing the magnitude of the initial vorticity.

4.5 Viscosity The background shear tilts the vortex tube over, thus generating vorticity at a right angle to the initial vorticity. Finally,
2

represents the viscous source/sink of vorticity. In the interior of a uid, viscosity will generally damp any initial vorticity. Adjacent to a solid boundary, viscosity and the no-slip boundary condition, can introduce vorticity into a uid.

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4.6 Kelvins circulation theorem Suppose C is a closed contour (e.g., of dyed uid parcels) that moves with the ow. The gure shows the displacement of C over a time interval t. How does the circulation around C evolve? DC = Dt
C

rst term on the right-hand side of (4.4), we obtain (exercise): DC = Dt

C

dp +
C

u dl.

(4.5)

This is Kelvins circulation theorem. In the absence of density variations and viscosity, the circulation is conserved along any contour that moves with the ow. This is an extremely powerful result! u
C

Du Dt

dl +

D dl . Dt

(4.4)

This also leads to the beautiful properties of vortex tubes and vortex lines discussed earlier. A consequence of Kelvins circulation theorem, smoke rings:

From the diagram:

u(x + dl, t) t dl(t + t) u(x, t) t

dl(t)

dl(t + t) dl(t) u(x + dl, t) t u(x, t) t (dl Thus: D dl = dl Dt u

u) t.

and the second term on the right-hand side of (4.4) becomes u (dl
C

u) =
C

uu dl = 0. 2

Finally, substituting for Du/Dt using the Navier Stokes equation in the
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