Chapter 4

Vorticity Dynamics
Vorticity Dynamics

• Vorticity is defined as :
𝜁𝑖 = 𝜀𝑖𝑗𝑘 𝑣𝑘,𝑗
Vorticity has several physical interpretations. The most common is that vorticity measures
the solid-body like rotation of a material point P' that neighbors the primary material point
P.

CIRCULATION AND VORTICITY

The circulation contained within a closed contour in a body of fluid is defined as the
integral around the contour of the component of the velocity vector that is locally tangent to
the contour
𝛤 = ර 𝑣𝑖 𝑡𝑖 𝑑𝑙
𝐶
Vorticity Dynamics

• From Stoke's theorem we have the equivalent expression

Γ = න 𝜁𝑖 𝑛𝑖 𝑑𝑆
𝐴
• a vortex line is defined as a line that is everywhere tangent to the
vorticity vectors ,and therefore
𝜀𝑖𝑗𝑘 𝜁𝑗 𝑑𝑥𝑘 = 0
• The vorticity component perpendicular to the wall is zero, so we know that the
vorticity vector lies in the wall ,and therefore, wall vortex lines are always
perpendicular to the wall streamlines.
 Vorticity Dynamics

• STREAM TUBES AND VORTEX TUBES

• Stream tube is a region whose sidewalls

are made up of streamlines.
• If the cross section of a stream tube is
infinitesimally small, the stream tube is
usually referred to as a stream filament.
Vorticity Dynamics

By analogy with stream tubes, for any closed

contour in a flow field, each point on the
contour will have a vortex line passing
through it, and the series of vortex lines
defined by the closed contour form a vortex
tube.
Vorticity Dynamics

• The continuity equation for an

incompressible fluid is
𝑣𝑖,𝑖 = 0
‫𝑖𝑣 𝑉׬‬,𝑖 𝑑𝑉 = 0
‫=𝑆𝑑 𝑖𝑣 𝑖𝑛 𝑆׬‬0
For a stream tube like figure
‫ = 𝑆𝑑 𝑖𝑣 𝑖𝑛 𝐴׬‬− ‫𝑆𝑑 𝑖𝑣 𝑖𝑛 𝐴׬‬
1 2
Vorticity Dynamics

𝑄1 = 𝑄2

• From this equation one argues that stream-tubes can never end within the fluid. If a finite integral
exists for the surface A 1, then A2 could vanish only if the velocity became infinite. An infinite
velocity represents an unrealistic situation that violates the continuum assumption; therefore, A2 is
always finite. It is, of course, possible that stream-tubes could form closed loops. The argument
also applies to streamlines, as they can be considered as the limit of a stream-tube of small area.
Vorticity Dynamics

• Turning now to the vorticity vector

𝜁𝑖 = 𝜀𝑖𝑗𝑘 𝑣𝑘,𝑗 ⟹ 𝜁𝑖,𝑖 = 0
‫𝑖𝜁 𝑉׬‬,𝑖 𝑑𝑉 = 0
‫=𝑆𝑑 𝑖𝜁 𝑖𝑛 𝑆׬‬0
For a vortex tube like figure
න 𝑛𝑖 𝜁𝑖 𝑑𝑆 = − න 𝑛𝑖 𝜁𝑖 𝑑𝑆
𝐴1 𝐴2
Γ1 = Γ2
Vorticity Dynamics

• The integral of 𝑛𝑖 𝜁𝑖 across a vortex tube is called the strength of the vortex tube.

• Hence, the strength of a vortex tube must be constant, and equal to the circulation
of any circuit around the vortex tube. There is an analogy between Γ and the flow
rate 𝑄 of a stream-tube.

• The fact that the vorticity vector 𝜁𝑖 is divergence-free (solenoidal) means that
vortex tubes must terminate on themselves, at a solid boundary or at a free surface
Vorticity Dynamics

• VORTICITY EQUATION
The dynamic equation that governs vorticity is derived from the momentum
equation for a fluid of constant density and viscosity
𝜕𝑣𝑖 1
+ 𝑣𝑗 𝑣𝑖,𝑗 = − 𝑝,𝑖 + 𝜗𝑣𝑖,𝑗𝑗
𝜕𝑡 𝜌
Into this equation, substituting the vector identity
𝑣𝑗 𝑣𝑖,𝑗 = (12𝑣𝑗 𝑣𝑗 ),𝑖 +𝜀𝑖𝑗𝑘 𝜁𝑗 𝑣𝑘
and taking curl from both side
𝜕 1 1
𝜀𝑝𝑞𝑖 𝑣𝑖,𝑞 + 𝜀𝑝𝑞𝑖 (2𝑣𝑗 𝑣𝑗 ),𝑖𝑞 + 𝜀𝑝𝑞𝑖 𝜀𝑖𝑗𝑘 𝜁𝑗 𝑣𝑘 = 𝜀𝑝𝑞𝑖 𝑝,𝑖𝑞 + 𝜗𝜀𝑝𝑞𝑖 𝑣𝑖,𝑗𝑗𝑞
𝜕𝑡 𝜌
Vorticity Dynamics

𝜀𝑝𝑞𝑖 (12𝑣𝑗 𝑣𝑗 ),𝑖𝑞 =0

antisymmetric symmetric

1
For the same reason 𝜀 𝑝 = 0 and
𝜌 𝑝𝑞𝑖 ,𝑖𝑞

𝜀𝑝𝑞𝑖 𝜀𝑖𝑗𝑘 (𝜁𝑗 𝑣𝑘 ),𝑞 = 𝛿𝑝𝑗 𝛿𝑞𝑘 − 𝛿𝑝𝑘 𝛿𝑞𝑗 𝜁𝑗 𝑣𝑘 ,𝑞

= (𝜁𝑝 𝑣𝑞 ),𝑞 − 𝜁𝑞 𝑣𝑝 ,𝑝
= 𝜁𝑝,𝑞 𝑣𝑞 − 𝜁𝑞 𝑣𝑝,𝑞
Vorticity Dynamics

• Finally we have
𝜕𝜁𝑖
+ 𝑣𝑗 𝜁𝑖,𝑗 = 𝜁𝑗 𝑣𝑖,𝑗 + 𝜗𝜁𝑖,𝑗𝑗
𝜕𝑡

or in symbolic notation
𝐷𝜻
= 𝜻𝛻𝒗 + 𝜗𝛻 2 𝜻
𝐷𝑡
rate of change of rate of deforming net rate of viscous
particle vorticity vortex lines diffusion of 𝜻
Vorticity Dynamics

Some points about vorticity equation

• vorticity tracks only the effect of viscous forces; pressure and gravity forces do not
change the vorticity directly. The physical reason behind this has to do with the
fact that vorticity is an indicator of solid-body rotation.
• The last term in the vorticity equation shows that vorticity can diffuse through a
flow by viscous action in the same way that momentum diffuses.
• The first term on the right-hand side: namely, 𝜻𝛻𝒗 represents the generation or
destruction of vorticity by two processes: stretching or turning the vortex lines.
(𝜁)
𝜁𝑗 𝑣𝑖,𝑗 = 𝜁𝑖 𝑣(𝑖,𝑗) + 𝑣[𝑖,𝑗] = 𝜁𝑗 𝑆𝑗𝑖 + 12𝜀𝑘𝑖𝑗 𝜁𝑘 = 𝜁𝑗 𝑆𝑗𝑖 = 𝜁 𝑑𝑖
Vorticity Dynamics
(𝜁) 𝜁𝑖
Here 𝑑𝑖 is the strain vector for the vorticity direction = 𝛼𝑖 ;.
𝜁
(𝜁)
• The term 𝜁 𝑑𝑖 is the magnitude of the vorticity times the strain rate between two
particles on the vortex line, that is, the strain vector 𝑑𝑖(𝜁) .
• The strain vector has a component along the vortex line (extension of the line) and
perpendicular to the line (vortex line turning).
𝐷𝜻
= 𝜻 𝒅(𝜁) = 𝜻 [𝜶𝜶 ∙ 𝒅 𝜁 + 𝜶 × 𝒅 𝜁 × 𝜶 ]
𝐷𝑡
vorticity generated by
vorticity generated by
turning the vortex line
stretching the vortex line
with angular deformations
Vorticity Dynamics

• KELVIN’S THEOREM
This theorem states that for an inviscid fluid in which the density is constant, or in
which the pressure depends on the density alone, and for which any body forces that
exist are conservative, the vorticity of each fluid particle will be preserved.

𝜕𝑣𝑖 1 1 𝜕𝐺
+ 𝑣𝑗 𝑣𝑗,𝑖 = − 𝑝,𝑖 + 𝐺,𝑖 𝐹𝑖 = = 𝐺,𝑖
𝜕𝑡 𝜌 𝜌 𝜕𝑥𝑖

𝐷𝑣𝑖 1 1
= − 𝑝,𝑖 + 𝐺,𝑖
𝐷𝑡 𝜌 𝜌
Vorticity Dynamics

• The material derivative of the circulation Γ will be calculated as

𝐷Γ 𝐷 𝐷𝑣𝑗 𝐷 𝑑𝑥𝑗
= ර 𝑣𝑗 𝑑𝑥𝑗 = ර[ 𝑑𝑥𝑗 + 𝑣𝑗 ]
𝐷𝑡 𝐷𝑡 𝐷𝑡 𝐷𝑡
𝐷 𝑑𝑥𝑗
is the material derivative of an element 𝑑𝑥𝑗 of the contour around which the
𝐷𝑡
circulation is to be calculated.
𝐷(𝑑𝑥𝑗 ) 𝐷𝑥𝑗 𝜕𝑥𝑗 𝜕𝑥𝑗
=𝑑 =𝑑 + 𝑣𝑘
𝐷𝑡 𝐷𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥𝑘
𝜕𝑥𝑗 𝜕𝑥𝑗
Since = 𝛿𝑗𝑘 and =0
𝜕𝑥𝑘 𝜕𝑡
𝐷(𝑑𝑥𝑗 )
= 𝑑 𝑣𝑗
𝐷𝑡
Vorticity Dynamics
𝐷Γ 𝐷𝑣𝑗
= ‫[ׯ‬ 𝑑𝑥𝑗 + 𝑣𝑗 𝑑𝑣𝑗 ]
𝐷𝑡 𝐷𝑡
𝐷Γ 1 1
= ‫([ׯ‬− 𝑝,𝑗 + 𝐺,𝑗 )𝑑𝑥𝑗 + 𝑣𝑗 𝑑𝑣𝑗 ]
𝐷𝑡 𝜌 𝜌
𝐷Γ 1 1
= ‫[ׯ‬− 𝑑𝑝 + 𝑑𝐺 + 12𝑑𝑣 2 ]
𝐷𝑡 𝜌 𝜌
𝐷Γ 1
= ‫[ׯ‬− 𝑑𝑝]
𝐷𝑡 𝜌
For incompressible of isentropic flows
𝐷Γ
=0
𝐷𝑡
Vorticity Dynamics

• HELMHOLTZ'S LAWS FOR INVISCID FLOW

• When viscous diffusion is not significant and body forces can be represented by a
potential, the behavior of vorticity follows three laws due to Helmholtz. In many
instances a fluid obtains vorticity by viscous action and then the subsequent motion is
inviscid; the viscous forces are negligible. Helmholtz's (1858; translated by Tait, 1867)
laws are:
I. No element of fluid, which was not originally in rotation, is made to rotate. Particles originally
without vorticity in an inviscid flow remain without vorticity throughout the flow.
II. The elements that at any time belong to one vortex line, however they may be translated, remain
on one vortex line. One may envision that vortex lines or tubes, a composition of lines with end caps,
always constitute the same fluid particles and move with the fluid.
III. The product of the section and the angular velocity of an infinitely thin vortex filament is constant
throughout its whole length and retains the same value during all displacements of the filament.
Hence, vortex filaments must be closed curves or must have their ends in the bounding surface of the
fluid. This essentially means that f = constant of Eq. 13.2.4 applies for all time to a material vortex
tube moving with the fluid.