Abstract
In order to analyse the flow characteristics of free-surface vortexes and to validate the Burgers vortex model by using stereo particle image velocimetry, experiments are conducted in a 600 mm diameter vortex tank. Measured axial velocities indicate that 10–25% of the flow is transported through the vortex core. The velocity profiles show that the axial flow is concentrated in a domain bounded by two times the core radius. Despite Burgers’ assumption of radially independent axial velocity profiles, the model quantifies the tangential velocity profile within a relative uncertainty of circa 10%. The measurements show that it seems valid to use Burgers’ model to obtain an estimate for the core radius by taking the average axial velocity over a radial domain of approximately 2.2 times the core radius. The Burgers model quantifies the air core depth with an uncertainty of 20% relative to the measurements. When compared with the magnitude of vorticity diffusion by molecular viscosity, the experiments show that there is no significant diffusion by radial turbulence.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 105-119 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Journal of Hydraulic Research |
Volume | 58 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2020 |
Keywords
- Air core depth
- axial vortex flow
- Burgers vortex model
- experiments
- stereo particle image velocimetry (SPIV)
- vortex core radius
- vortex dynamics