4.II.18D

Fluid Dynamics
Part IB, 2007

Starting from Euler's equation for an inviscid, incompressible fluid in the absence of body forces,

ut+(u.)u=1ρp\frac{\partial \mathbf{u}}{\partial t}+(\mathbf{u} . \nabla) \mathbf{u}=-\frac{1}{\rho} \nabla p

derive the equation for the vorticity ω=u\boldsymbol{\omega}=\nabla_{\wedge} \mathbf{u}.

[You may assume that (ab)=abba+(b.)a(a.)b.]\left.\nabla_{\wedge}\left(\mathbf{a}_{\wedge} \mathbf{b}\right)=\mathbf{a} \nabla \cdot \mathbf{b}-\mathbf{b} \nabla \cdot \mathbf{a}+(\mathbf{b} . \nabla) \mathbf{a}-(\mathbf{a} . \nabla) \mathbf{b} .\right]

Show that, in a two-dimensional flow, vortex lines keep their strength and move with the fluid.

Show that a two-dimensional flow driven by a line vortex of circulation Γ\Gamma at distance bb from a rigid plane wall is the same as if the wall were replaced by another vortex of circulation Γ-\Gamma at the image point, distance bb from the wall on the other side. Deduce that the first vortex will move at speed Γ/4πb\Gamma / 4 \pi b parallel to the wall.

A line vortex of circulation Γ\Gamma moves in a quarter-plane, bounded by rigid plane walls at x=0,y>0x=0, y>0 and y=0,x>0y=0, x>0. Show that the vortex follows a trajectory whose equation in plane polar coordinates is rsin2θ=r \sin 2 \theta= constant.