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An experimental study of a turbulent vortex ring: a three-dimensional representation

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Abstract

This paper presents a reconstruction of the three-dimensional velocity field of a turbulent vortex ring by means of Taylor’s hypothesis. Stereoscopic PIV is used to acquire three velocity component information on a plane. The accuracy of the Taylor’s hypothesis for this particular flow pattern is first discussed, and the three-dimensional velocity and vorticity information are then presented. This study also introduces an azimuthally averaging method in order to give a mean structure in cylindrical coordinates from a single realization and from which turbulent stresses and production can be estimated. The azimuthally averaged quantities are then compared with the ensemble-averaged results from the previous planar (two-dimensional and stereoscopic) PIV experiments.

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Notes

  1. Ideally the instantaneous convection velocity of the ring would be used. This requires simultaneous measurements normal to the measurement plane which were not available.

  2. It is assumed here that the ring advection velocity in the vicinity of the PIV testing location is constant. Figure 3 shows that it is a fairly reasonable assumption.

  3. If one produces a large number of turbulent vortex rings from a circular orifice, and does an ensemble average, the resultant velocity field is approximately axisymmetric.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, UK

    L. Gan, T. B. Nickels & J. R. Dawson

Authors
  1. L. Gan
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  2. T. B. Nickels
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  3. J. R. Dawson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Gan.

Additional information

Until October 2nd 2010, Dr. Nickels was a Reader in Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge.

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Gan, L., Nickels, T.B. & Dawson, J.R. An experimental study of a turbulent vortex ring: a three-dimensional representation. Exp Fluids 51, 1493–1507 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-011-1156-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-011-1156-5

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