scholarly journals Head-on collisions between two quasi-geostrophic hetons in a continuously stratified fluid

2015 ◽  
Vol 779 ◽  
pp. 144-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean N. Reinaud ◽  
Xavier Carton

We examine the interactions between two three-dimensional quasi-geostrophic hetons. The hetons are initially translating towards one another. We address the effect of the vertical distance between the two poles (vortices) constituting each heton on the interaction. We also examine the influence of the horizontal separation between the poles within each heton. In this investigation, the two hetons are facing each other. Two configurations are possible depending on the respective locations of the like-signed poles of the hetons. When they lie at the same depth, we refer to the configuration as symmetric; the antisymmetric configuration corresponds to opposite-signed poles at the same depth. The first step in the investigation uses point vortices to represent the poles of the hetons. This approach allows us to rapidly browse the parameter space and to estimate the possible heton trajectories. For a symmetric pair, the hetons either reverse their trajectory or recombine and escape perpendicularly depending of their horizontal and vertical offsets. On the other hand, antisymmetric hetons recombine and escape perpendicularly as same-depth dipoles. In a second part, we focus on finite core hetons (with finite volume poles). These hetons can deform and may be sensitive to horizontal-shear-induced deformations, or to baroclinic instability. These destabilisations depend on the vertical and horizontal offsets between the various poles, as well as on their width-to-height aspect ratios. They can modify the volume of the poles via vortex merger, breaking and/or shearing out; they compete with the advective evolution observed for singular (point) vortices. Importantly, hetons can break down or reconfigure before they can drift away as expected from a point vortex approach. Thus, a large variety of behaviours is observed in the parameter space. Finally, we briefly illustrate the behaviour of tall hetons which can be unstable to an azimuthal mode $l=1$ when many vertical modes of deformation are present on the heton.

1996 ◽  
Vol 328 ◽  
pp. 129-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Dritschel ◽  
Manuel De La Torre JuáRez

We examine the linear stability of elliptical columns of uniform potential vorticity subject to two-dimensional (horizontal) straining within a rapidly rotating, stratified (quasi-geostrophic) fluid. We find that horizontal straining can promote the exponential growth of three-dimensional disturbances when the vortex height-to-width aspect ratio exceeds, qualitatively, three times the ratio of the Coriolis parameter to the buoyancy frequency. This instability is not related to the usual baroclinic instability which operates on shallow vortex columns whose potential vorticity changes sign with height. The nonlinear development of these instabilities is investigated numerically using a high-resolution contour surgery algorithm. Simulations are conducted for both a Boussinesq (ocean-like) fluid and a compressible (atmospheric-like) fluid having exponentially decreasing density with height. The simulations reveal a generic nonlinear development that results in a semi-ellipsoidal baroclinic vortex dome at the lower surface and, in the case of a Boussinesq fluid, another such dome at the upper surface.The related problem of two interacting vortex columns is also examined. A generic three-dimensional instability and nonlinear development occurs no matter how great the distance between the vortex columns, provided that they are sufficiently tall.Our results may bear upon the observed structure of many atmospheric and oceanic vortices, whose height-to-width aspect ratios are consistent with our findings. Remarkably, even strongly ageostrophic vortices, such as tropical cyclones, fit the pattern. Our results furthermore re-open questions about the long-time nature of freely decaying quasi-geostrophic turbulence, for which recent simulations indicate a progressive two-dimensionalization by vortex alignment, while earlier simulations have indicated long-lived baroclinic vortices, not unlike what we find here.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Connor Behan ◽  
Lorenzo Di Pietro ◽  
Edoardo Lauria ◽  
Balt C. van Rees

Abstract We study conformal boundary conditions for the theory of a single real scalar to investigate whether the known Dirichlet and Neumann conditions are the only possibilities. For this free bulk theory there are strong restrictions on the possible boundary dynamics. In particular, we find that the bulk-to-boundary operator expansion of the bulk field involves at most a ‘shadow pair’ of boundary fields, irrespective of the conformal boundary condition. We numerically analyze the four-point crossing equations for this shadow pair in the case of a three-dimensional boundary (so a four-dimensional scalar field) and find that large ranges of parameter space are excluded. However a ‘kink’ in the numerical bounds obeys all our consistency checks and might be an indication of a new conformal boundary condition.


2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Roullet ◽  
J. C. McWilliams ◽  
X. Capet ◽  
M. J. Molemaker

Abstract High-resolution simulations of β-channel, zonal-jet, baroclinic turbulence with a three-dimensional quasigeostrophic (QG) model including surface potential vorticity (PV) are analyzed with emphasis on the competing role of interior and surface PV (associated with isopycnal outcropping). Two distinct regimes are considered: a Phillips case, where the PV gradient changes sign twice in the interior, and a Charney case, where the PV gradient changes sign in the interior and at the surface. The Phillips case is typical of the simplified turbulence test beds that have been widely used to investigate the effect of ocean eddies on ocean tracer distribution and fluxes. The Charney case shares many similarities with recent high-resolution primitive equation simulations. The main difference between the two regimes is indeed an energization of submesoscale turbulence near the surface. The energy cycle is analyzed in the (k, z) plane, where k is the horizontal wavenumber. In the two regimes, the large-scale buoyancy forcing is the primary source of mechanical energy. It sustains an energy cycle in which baroclinic instability converts more available potential energy (APE) to kinetic energy (KE) than the APE directly injected by the forcing. This is due to a conversion of KE to APE at the scale of arrest. All the KE is dissipated at the bottom at large scales, in the limit of infinite resolution and despite the submesoscales energizing in the Charney case. The eddy PV flux is largest at the scale of arrest in both cases. The eddy diffusivity is very smooth but highly nonuniform. The eddy-induced circulation acts to flatten the mean isopycnals in both cases.


2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1413-1436 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Schötzau ◽  
C. Schwab ◽  
A. Toselli

We consider stabilized mixed hp-discontinuous Galerkin methods for the discretization of the Stokes problem in three-dimensional polyhedral domains. The methods are stabilized with a term penalizing the pressure jumps. For this approach it is shown that ℚk-ℚk and ℚk-ℚk-1 elements satisfy a generalized inf–sup condition on geometric edge and boundary layer meshes that are refined anisotropically and non quasi-uniformly towards faces, edges, and corners. The discrete inf–sup constant is proven to be independent of the aspect ratios of the anisotropic elements and to decrease as k-1/2 with the approximation order. We also show that the generalized inf–sup condition leads to a global stability result in a suitable energy norm.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 943
Author(s):  
Henryk Kudela

In this paper, the motion of the n-vortex system as it collapses to a point in finite time is studied. The motion of vortices is described by the set of ordinary differential equations that we are able to solve analytically. The explicit formula for the solution demands the initial location of collapsing vortices. To find the collapsing locations of vortices, the algebraic, nonlinear system of equations was built. The solution of that algebraic system was obtained using Newton’s procedure. A good initial iterate needs to be provided to succeed in the application of Newton’s procedure. An unconstrained Leverber–Marquart optimization procedure was used to find such a good initial iterate. The numerical studies were conducted, and numerical evidence was presented that if in a collapsing system n=50 point vortices include a few vortices with much greater intensities than the others in the set, the vortices with weaker intensities organize themselves onto the vortex sheet. The collapsing locations depend on the value of the Hamiltonian. By changing the Hamiltonian values in a specific interval, the collapsing curves can be obtained. All points on the collapse curves with the same Hamiltonian value represent one collapsing system of vortices. To show the properties of vortex sheets created by vortices, the passive tracers were used. Advection of tracers by the velocity induced by vortices was calculated by solving the proper differential equations. The vortex sheets are an impermeable barrier to inward and outward fluxes of tracers. Arising vortex structures are able to transport the passive tracers. In this paper, several examples showing the diversity of collapsing structures with the vortex sheet are presented. The collapsing phenomenon of many vortices, their ability to self organize and the transportation of the passive tracers are novelties in the context of point vortex dynamics.


Author(s):  
Susanne Horn ◽  
Peter J. Schmid ◽  
Jonathan M. Aurnou

Abstract The large-scale circulation (LSC) is the most fundamental turbulent coherent flow structure in Rayleigh-B\'enard convection. Further, LSCs provide the foundation upon which superstructures, the largest observable features in convective systems, are formed. In confined cylindrical geometries with diameter-to-height aspect ratios of Γ ≅ 1, LSC dynamics are known to be governed by a quasi-two-dimensional, coupled horizontal sloshing and torsional (ST) oscillatory mode. In contrast, in Γ ≥ √2 cylinders, a three-dimensional jump rope vortex (JRV) motion dominates the LSC dynamics. Here, we use dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) on direct numerical simulation data of liquid metal to show that both types of modes co-exist in Γ = 1 and Γ = 2 cylinders but with opposite dynamical importance. Furthermore, with this analysis, we demonstrate that ST oscillations originate from a tilted elliptical mean flow superposed with a symmetric higher order mode, which is connected to the four rolls in the plane perpendicular to the LSC in Γ = 1 tanks.


Author(s):  
Poirot Nathalie ◽  
Raynal Pierre-Ivan

We demonstrated a new approach to the production of three-dimensional-coated patterns using liquid route. Metallic perovskite oxides were coated onto three-dimensional (3D) microstructured substrates with different aspect ratios. The success of the method relies on the solution viscosity monitored by adding viscous liquid. The process of oxide thin films consists in three steps: preparing the precursor solution, coating the solution by spin-coating process onto three-dimensional-Si substrates and post-annealing. The chemical solution 3D-coating is conformal.


2021 ◽  
Vol 925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei He ◽  
Sebastian Timme

This article uses triglobal stability analysis to address the question of shock-buffet unsteadiness, and associated modal dominance, on infinite wings at high Reynolds number, expanding upon recent biglobal work, aspiring to elucidate the flow phenomenon's origin and characteristics. Infinite wings are modelled by extruding an aerofoil to finite aspect ratios and imposing a periodic boundary condition without assumptions on spanwise homogeneity. Two distinct steady base flows, spanwise uniform and non-uniform, are analysed herein on straight and swept wings. Stability analysis of straight-wing uniform flow identifies both the oscillatory aerofoil mode, linked to the chordwise shock motion synchronised with a pulsation of its downstream shear layer, and several monotone (non-oscillatory), spatially periodic shock-distortion modes. Those monotone modes become outboard travelling on the swept wing with their respective frequencies and phase speeds correlated with the sweep angle. In the limiting case of very small wavenumbers approaching zero, the effect of sweep creates branches of outboard and inboard travelling modes. Overall, triglobal results for such quasi-three-dimensional base flows agree with previous biglobal studies. On the contrary, cellular patterns form in proper three-dimensional base flow on straight wings, and we present the first triglobal study of such an equilibrium solution to the governing equations. Spanwise-irregular modes are found to be sensitive to the chosen aspect ratio. Nonlinear time-marching simulations reveal the flow evolution and distinct events to confirm the insights gained through dominant modes from routine triglobal stability analysis.


2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael W. Egner ◽  
Louis C. Burmeister

Laminar flow and heat transfer in three-dimensional spiral ducts of rectangular cross section with aspect ratios of 1, 4, and 8 were determined by making use of the FLUENT computational fluid dynamics program. The peripherally averaged Nusselt number is presented as a function of distance from the inlet and of the Dean number. Fully developed values of the Nusselt number for a constant-radius-of-curvature duct, either toroidal or helical with small pitch, can be used to predict those quantities for the spiral duct in postentry regions. These results are applicable to spiral-plate heat exchangers.


2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 714-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Poulin ◽  
A. Stegner ◽  
M. Hernández-Arencibia ◽  
A. Marrero-Díaz ◽  
P. Sangrà

Abstract In situ measurements obtained during the 2010 COUPLING cruise were analyzed in order to fully characterize the velocity structure of the coastal Bransfield Current. An idealized two-layer shallow-water model was used to investigate the various instability processes of the realistic current along the coastal shelf. Particularly studied is how the topographic parameter To (ratio between the shelf slope and the isopycnal slope of the surface current) impacts the growth and the wavelength of the unstable perturbations. For small bottom slopes, when the evolution of the coastal current is controlled by the baroclinic instability, the increase of the topographic parameter To yields a selection of smaller unstable wavelengths. The growth rates increase with small values of To. For larger values of To (To ≳ 10, which is relevant for the coastal Bransfield Current), the baroclinic instability is strongly dampened and the horizontal shear instability becomes the dominant one. In this steep shelf regime, the unstable growth rate and the wavelength selection of the baroclinic coastal current remains almost constant and weakly affected by the amplitude of the bottom velocity or the exact value of the shelf slope. Hence, the linear stability analysis of an idealized Bransfield Current predicts a typical growth time of 7.7 days and an alongshore scale of 47 km all along the South Shetland Island shelf. The fact that these large growth times are identical to the typical transit time of water parcels along the shelf may explain why the current does not exhibit any unstable meanders.


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