AS5400 - Theory and Computation of

Vortex Dominated Flows

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Page 1 of 12

Homework Assignment 4
By C R Rakesh, AE11B026
17 Apr 2014
1 Question 1
The way we got the complex potential for the Klein-Kaffeeloffel experiment is
as follows:
1. First we wrote the complex potential of a stationary and infinitely long
cylinder centred at the origin.
2. Using Joukowski transform, we transformed the circle (side view of the
long cylinder) to an ellipse. Even now the ellipse is stationary
3. Then we said that in the Klein-Kaffeeloffel experiment, the 2
dimensional plate (as is called by Saffman in page 95) is moving with
velocity U and not the fluid against a stationary plate. Hence, we used
the principle of Galilean invariance to transform the co-ordinate system
(since it is inertial) so that the ellipse now moves with velocity U and the
fluid far away from it is stationary
4. Then, in order to model a two-dimensional plate, we modified the 2
constants (a and b in our notation) so that a = b. This yielded a 2
dimensional plate and the appropriate substitution in the complex
potential we derived (up until step 3) yielded the results as obtained
by Klein-Kaffeeloffel.
We shall now verify if the complex potential (as prescribed by inspection,
Saffman page 95) does indeed model the Klein-Kaffeeloffel experiment. The
complex potential so defined is:
= + = U(z

z
2
+
2
)
(1)
We assumed that the two-dimensional plate is at the y-axis and centred at the
origin and time t = 0. We wish to see if equation (1) gives the correct velocity
field and if the boundary conditions are satisfied. The velocity field can be
found out as follows:

= = (1

2
+
2
)
(2)

AS5400 - Theory and Computation of
Vortex Dominated Flows
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Page 2 of 12

We know the velocity field at t = 0 for the two-dimensional plate to evaluated
in the regions immediately to the left and right of it. Hence, we have to apply
the following to equation (2):
= 0, || < , = (3)

Applying equation (3) to equation (2), we have:
= (1

2

2
)
(4)

Hence, the velocity components are given by:
= , |
=0
+ =

2

2
|
=0
=

2

2

(5)

The velocity field obtained from equation (5) is exactly the same as that
obtained in the class. Now, before we compute the vortex sheet strength, we
have to verify if the complex potential (equation (1)) also satisfies the
following boundary conditions as mentioned in Saffman:
() = , = 0 || < () = 0 (6)

Substituting conditions in equation (3) to equation (1), we have:
+ =
2

2
+
(7)

From equation (7), we see that condition (6, i) is satisfied.
Now, to show condition (6, ii):
lim

= lim

2
+
2
)
= lim
0
(
1

2
+
2
), =
1

AS5400 - Theory and Computation of
Vortex Dominated Flows
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Page 3 of 12

= lim
0

(1 1 +()
2
)
= lim
0

(1 (1 +
()
2
2

()
4
8
+))
= lim
0
(

2
2
+

4
8
)
= 0
From equation (8), we see that condition (6, ii) is satisfied.
To find the vortex sheet strength, from equation (5), we have:
() = .

=
2

2

2

The general expression for vortex sheet strength is given by
(

= (

) =

(8)

At t=0 and at x=0, we have:
() =
2

2

(9)

The result obtained in equation (9) is the same as the one obtained in class
and equation (9) represents the strength of the vortex sheet.
2 Question 2
For the rolling up of semi infinite vortex sheet, the following equations can
be used to describe the evolution of the vortex sheet:
=

(
0
)
4
3

1
3
; =
1
2
2

3
;

=
1
4
;
(10)
= 2
0

= 0
(11)

AS5400 - Theory and Computation of
Vortex Dominated Flows
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Page 4 of 12

=
0
+

1
3
(2)

2
3

2
3
exp[( +)]
(12)
= (
0
)
2
3

(13)

In the above set of equations, we have the following variables:
, , ,
0
, , , ,
0
, , and we are going to plot z as a function of time.
Since our vortex sheet is made of up infinite vortex filaments, we can use
Kelvins circulation theorem and say:

= 0 or that the value of is same for

all time. (Since we assumed incompressible and inviscid flow to arrive at the
above equations (10 to 13), we can safely say that Kelvins circulation theorem
will also hold).
Excluding z and t, we have 8 parameters and 5 equations (except equation 13).
Hence, we can choose and modify 3 parameters. We choose to modify
0
, ,
0
.
Initial condition: A vortex sheet in the x-axis in [0,100] units
The following cases were chosen for the simulations











AS5400 - Theory and Computation of
Vortex Dominated Flows
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Page 5 of 12

Case 1:
0
= 0,
0
= 4, = /64: this is chosen as the base case. All the other
cases will be compared with this case.


Figure 1 The Base case
It can be seen that for the above combination of the tweakable parameters,
the vortex sheet rolled to form a spiral at time t = 1 units.
For the further cases, note the following: Value of time t, Axis limits. These will
be used to explain what is observed.





AS5400 - Theory and Computation of
Vortex Dominated Flows
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Page 6 of 12

Case 2:
0
= 0,
0
= 4, = /16

Figure 2 Epsilon is increased
When we increase the value of by 4 times, it is seen that the vortex sheet
curls up to a very less extent. The number of spiral loops seen (with respect to
the same axes window) is less compared to that observed in Figure 1. Hence,
we conclude that increasing reduces the number density of spiral loops in
the xy plane after the same amount of time.
Hence, we can say that the parameter denotes the number density of
spirals and that the number density of spiral loops varies inversely with
.




AS5400 - Theory and Computation of
Vortex Dominated Flows
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Page 7 of 12

Case 3:
0
= 0,
0
= 8, = /64

Figure 3 -
0
is increased

Figure 4 -
0
is increased and viewed at half time

AS5400 - Theory and Computation of
Vortex Dominated Flows
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Page 8 of 12

By comparing figure 4 and figure 1, we can see that they are very similar. But
it should be noted that figure 4 is for t = 0.5 units. Hence, we can say that
increasing
0
essentially increases the roll-up rate of the vortex sheet. Figure
3 shows the vortex sheet at time t = 1 units. It is seen that the vortex sheet
curls up further.
Hence, we conclude that increasing

increases the speed of rolling up

or speed of evolution of vortex sheet.

Case 4:
0
= 1,
0
= 4, = /64

Figure 5 -
0
is made positive
It is seen from figure 5 that making
0
positive makes the centre of the curled
up vortex sheet move towards the positive y-axis. Hence, we conclude that

AS5400 - Theory and Computation of
Vortex Dominated Flows
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Page 9 of 12

the parameter

denotes (to some extent) the position of the centre of

the vortex sheet.
Case 5:
0
= 1,
0
= 4, = /64

Figure 6 -
0
is made negative
It is seen from figure 5 that making
0
negative makes the centre of the curled
up vortex sheet move towards the negative y-axis (See the point (-1, -1.2)).
The simulation is done till time t = 0.5 because at time t = 1 units, the spiral
diverges very much and the positions of the individual vortex filaments are
too large to be stored by the computer, i.e., the positions become NaN.
The above statement also demonstrates another fact: the vortex sheet curls
up and expands as time progresses. It is essentially unstable, which is why
at higher time steps, we are not able to represent the position of the vortex
sheet (on a computer).

AS5400 - Theory and Computation of
Vortex Dominated Flows
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Page 10 of 12

3 Question 3
The aim of this answer is to find alternate functions to represent the entity An
+

such that the singularity character of the Birkhoff-Rott equation can be
demonstrated for the case of the Kevin-Helmholtz instability problem. We
intend to show that for all the following functions the following condition is
satisfied:
t < t
0
the solution converges
t > t
0
the solution diverges
(14)

,where t0 is some reference time. This demonstrates the required singularity
character.
We have:
(, ) =

+
exp[
(
2

1
)

] sin(
2

=1

(15)

Hence, we need to choose An
+
as some function of n and which varies linearly
with t0 so that we can claim that for t < t0 the solution converges and for t > t0
the solution diverges.
Now we could take An
+
as a function of n and some function f(t0), but even
then it would not matter because we can always find a finite time reference
t0=f(t0) such that the condition (14) is satisfied for time reference = t0.
Hence, for the sake of simplicity, we can now take An
+
as follows:

+
= ()exp (
0
) (16)

In class, we took () =
0
exp (

) and =
(
2

1
)

. Then we showed that

for t < t0, |(, )|
0
exp(

=1
. We then used the integral test to show
the RHS is a finite number and hence the solution is convergent. Proceeding
along similar lines for t > t0, we can show that the solution becomes divergent.

AS5400 - Theory and Computation of
Vortex Dominated Flows
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Page 11 of 12

In the above example, the key ingredient in proving condition (14) was
choosing a function f(n) such that ()

=
is finite. (Note: we assume
that the other terms viz. A0, k, t0, t, U2, U1, are all finite)
Hence, we can choose any function f(n) which makes the value of the
improper integral to be finite.
Some sample functions:
3.1 f(n) = A0.n.exp(-n
2
)
lim

2
= lim

(
1
2

2
) |
0

=
1
2

(17)
=
(
2

1
)

(, ) =
0

2
exp[
(
2

1
)(
0
)

] sin(
2

=1

Consider t < t0:
|(, )|
0

2
exp[
(
2

1
)(
0
)

=1

|(, )|
0

=1

1
2

[
(
2

1
)(
0
)

] < 0 <
0

Hence, solution converges for t < t0. The solution diverges for t > t0 because
[
(
2

1
)(
0
)

] > 0 >
0
.
3.2 f(n) =

The integral of f(n) is finite:
lim

0
1 +
2

0
=
0
lim

tan
1
=
0

2


AS5400 - Theory and Computation of
Vortex Dominated Flows
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Page 12 of 12

By using the same argument as in section 3.1, we can prove condition (14).
3.3 f(n)=

The integral of f(n) is finite:
lim

0
=
0
lim

2
+1

0
=
0
lim

tan
1

|
0

=
0

4

By using the same argument as in section 3.1, we can prove condition (14).
Hence, the singularity character of Birkhoff-Rott equation is established.