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Sec2 6-7

This document discusses vorticity and Kelvin's circulation theorem in fluid dynamics. 1) Vorticity (ω) is defined as the curl of velocity (∇ × u) and represents the local rotation or spin of fluid elements. Examples of different flows and their vorticities are given. 2) Kelvin's circulation theorem states that for inviscid fluid with conservative forces, the circulation around a closed material curve remains constant over time. 3) A corollary is that irrotational flow, where vorticity is zero everywhere, will remain irrotational according to the circulation theorem.

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51 views4 pages

Sec2 6-7

This document discusses vorticity and Kelvin's circulation theorem in fluid dynamics. 1) Vorticity (ω) is defined as the curl of velocity (∇ × u) and represents the local rotation or spin of fluid elements. Examples of different flows and their vorticities are given. 2) Kelvin's circulation theorem states that for inviscid fluid with conservative forces, the circulation around a closed material curve remains constant over time. 3) A corollary is that irrotational flow, where vorticity is zero everywhere, will remain irrotational according to the circulation theorem.

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Fluid Dynamics IB

Dr Natalia Berloff

§2.6 Vorticity
Definition: Vorticity ω = ∇ × u. A vortex line, at a particular time t, is a curve wich
has the same direction as the vorticity vector ω .

Example (1): Rigit body rotation u = Ω × x

Interpretation of vorticity in 2D flow

Consider two short fluid line elements AB and AC which are perpendicular at a certain
instant of time

Note that the y−component of velocity at B exceeds that at A by

so that ∂v/∂x represents the instantaneous angular velocity of the fluid line element AB.
Likewise, −∂u/∂y represents the instantaneous angular velocity of AC. Thus at any point
∂v
of the flow field 12 ω = 12 ( ∂x − ∂u
∂y ) represents the average angular velocity of two
short fluid line elements that happen, at that instant, to be mutually perpendicular. In
this precise sense the vorticity ω acts as a measure of the local rotation, or spin, of fluid
elements.
Example (2): Shear flow u = (αy, 0, 0)

Example (3): Line vortex u = kr eθ in cylindrical coordinates (r, θ, z). k is a constant.

The vorticity is zero except at r = 0, where neither u nor ∇ × u is defined.


Examples (2) and (3) illustrate an important distinction. Rotation, as specified by vorticity,
corresponds to changing orientation in space of the fluid particle and not to motion round
a circular path.

Let’s compare the vorticity field with the velocity field:


velocity u vorticity ω = ∇ × u
————————————————————————————————————
stream line

∇ · u = 0 (if incompressible)
R
S
u · n = 0 (integral form)

The vortex lines which pass through some simple closed curve in space are said to form
the boundary of a vortex tube.

We say that ‘stretching amplfies vorticity’. It is also called the ‘ballerina effect’. While
spinning on your toes, you pull your arms in and spin faster.
This is essentially how the familiar ‘bathtub vortex’ works:
Let’s derive an equation for vorticity of inviscid, incompressible fluid under action of con-
servative volume force:

Recall the vector identities: (1) (u · ∇)u = ω × u + ∇( 12 |u|2 ) (3) ∇ · (∇ × u) = 0


(2)∇ × (ωω × u) = ω (∇ · u) − (ωω · ∇)u − u(∇ · ω ) + (u · ∇)ωω (4) ∇ × ∇φ = 0

ω
Dω
ω · ∇)u.
= (ω
Dt

Therefore, watching a given fluid particle/parcel we see its ω value changing at the rate
ω · ∇)u.
(ω
Recall equation for a material line element: DδlDt = (δl · ∇)u . Note: we can think of the
d/dt as D/Dt (of δl regarded as a field, i.e. expressed as a function of x and t).
In component form:

Hence the tensor ∂ui /∂xj determines the local rate of deformation of line element.

The local motion of line elements due to the second term is 21 ²jik δlj ωk = ( 21 ω × δl)i
Local motion due to the first term, called the pure strain, gives zero angular velocity
when averaged over all orientations of δl.
So: Vortex lines move as if they were material lines. Or, vortex tubes rotate and stretch
just like the material line elements. This is another statement of conservation of angular
momentum.

§2.7 Kelvin’s circulation theorem and the persistence of irrotationality

Circulation is the integral counterpart of vorticity; Kelvin’s circulation theorem (sometimes


just called ‘the circulation theorem’) is the integral counterpart of the vorticity equation.
Define the circulation, C, around a closed curve Γ by
I Z
C= u · dl = ω · n dS where S spans Γ
Γ S
(Stokes’ theorem).

Let Γ be a material curve (this is crucial):

This is Kelvin’s circulation theorem. In words: for inviscid (frictionless) fluid of uni-
form density with conservative forces, the circulation around a closed material curve
remains constant.

Definition: irrotational flow, or irrotational fluid motion ⇔ ω = 0 everywhere.


Corollary of the circulation theorem: irrotational flow remains irrotational.
Proof for smooth ω (x, t): Initially irrotational ⇒ circulation around all (arbitrary) ma-
terial circuits initially zero ⇒ circulation around all material circuits remains zero ⇒
flow remains irrotational.

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