On the formation of vortex rings: Rolling-up and production of circulation

The temporal development of the rolling-up process of vortex rings produced in water at a circular nozzle is investigated by flow visualization. The results are compared with similarity laws for the rolling-up of vortex sheets in plane flow. The unsteady flow field in the nozzle-exit plane is measured by laser anemometry. The vorticity distribution in the boundary layers at the inner and outer nozzle wall and the vorticity flux through the exit plane are derived from the measurements. The flow conditions measured at the nozzle are used to explain the production of the ring-vortex circulation (measured three nozzle-diameters downstream) in relation to the generation conditions.