The flow field around a rotor in axial descent

Green, R.B., Gillies, E.A. and Brown, R.E. (2005) The flow field around a rotor in axial descent. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 534, pp. 237-261. (doi: 10.1017/S0022112005004155)

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Abstract

Measurements of the flow field around a model rotor descending axially into its own vortex wake have been performed using particle image velocimetry (PIV). At low descent rates, the expected cylindrical down-flow structure below the rotor is observed. At slightly higher descent rate, the flow enters the so-called vortex ring state (VRS) where the vorticity from the rotor accumulates into a toroidal structure near the rotor tips, and a large recirculation zone forms above the rotor disk. In the VRS, the flow below the rotor shows a significant upwards component, with a small up-flow zone penetrating right up to the rotor disk. Measurements show there to be a range of descent rates just before the onset of the VRS over which the flow may be interpreted to be in an incipient VRS condition. In this range, analyses of individual PIV measurements indicate that the flow near the rotor intermittently switches between the down-flow topology found at lower descent rates and the flow topology found in the fully developed VRS. The frequency of excursions of the flow into the VRS topology increases as the descent rate of the rotor is increased until, at high enough descent rate, the flow remains locked within its toroidal state.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Brown, Dr Richard and Green, Dr Richard and Gillies, Dr Eric
Authors: Green, R.B., Gillies, E.A., and Brown, R.E.
Subjects:Q Science > QA Mathematics
Q Science > QC Physics
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Autonomous Systems and Connectivity
Journal Name:Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Journal Abbr.:J. Fluid Mech.
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
ISSN:0022-1120
ISSN (Online):1469-7645
Published Online:21 June 2005
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2005 Cambridge University Press
First Published:First published in Journal of Fluid Mechanics 534:237-261
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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