INSTABILITY AND

RECONNECTION IN THE
HEAD-ON COLLISION OF TWO
VORTEX RINGS
Paper authored by- T.T. Lim & T.B. Nickels

A presentation by :-
Ashutosh Muduly (200215)
 A BRIEF IDEA
 The instability of vortex filaments is one way that fluid flows become more
complicated. In a process known as reconnection, vortex filaments of opposing
circulation that are brought together by an instability may split apart. The topology of
flows undergoes some fundamental changes as a result of this instability and
reconnection process.
 This article presents the experimental observations of a special type of instability in
which two colliding vortex rings become unstable and reconnect to form a series of
smaller rings. Collisions at high Reynolds numbers result in a turbulent cloud with
sporadic appearances of small rings.
 In addition to many other features, such as a short-wavelength instability around the
circumference of the colliding rings, we have used colored dyes to reveal the intricate
structure of the small rings.
 EXPERIMENTAL
SETUP
• The experiment was conducted in water in a
glass tank (1.22 m long, 0.36 m wide and 0.47 m
deep) in which were immersed two horizontally
opposed nozzles spaced 220 mm apart.
• A piston that was attached to both nozzles
simultaneously ejected short, equal pulses of
water from each nozzle, creating two identical
vortex rings that were moving in the same
direction.
• By using an electronically controlled stepping
motor to drive the piston, accurate, repeatable
results were obtained, allowing for the
measurement of the ring circulation and
Reynolds number.
 REYNOLD’S NUMBER

The Reynolds number is the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces within a fluid that is
subjected to relative internal movement due to different fluid velocities. A region
where these forces change behavior is known as a boundary layer, such as the
bounding surface in the interior of a pipe.
Re = ((U.D)/(v));
Here:
•Re = Reynold’s number
• U = initial translation velocity
• D = Diameter of the ring
• v = kinematic viscosity
 RESULTS

• The instability’s wavelength varies

along the circumference
• Offset vortex rings collided to form a
few small rings
• Over the circumference, some waves
failed to develop to a significant
level.
• On Top - Short-wavelength instability
On Bottom - Close-up view of the
small rings.
 SUMMARY
• The effect of viscous forces
becomes less prominent at
higher Reynold’s number.
• When the Reynold’s number
is increased from1500 to
3000, there is a transition in
the flow where there is an
appearance of small
structure on the rings.
• When the Reynold’s number
is increased beyond 3000,
the two rings disintegrate to
form a turbulent cloud.