Generation and characteristics of vortex rings free of piston vortex and stopping vortex effects

This paper presents a novel method for generating vortex rings that circumvents some of the drawbacks associated with existing methods in producing them. The predominant effects that occur in previously used methods are due to the presence of some of the other vortices such as the stopping vortex, piston vortex, image vortex and orifice lip generated vortices in the early stage of development. These disturbances influence the geometric, kinematic and dynamic characteristics of a vortex ring and lead to mismatches with classical theoretical predictions. It is shown in the present study that the disturbance free vortex rings produced follow the classical theory. Flow visualization and particle image velocimetry experiments are carried out in the Reynolds number (defined as the ratio of circulation (Gamma) and kinematic viscosity (nu)) range, 2270 < Re-Gamma < 6790, to find the translational velocity, total and core circulation, core diameter, ring diameter and bubble diameter. In reference to the earlier studies, significant differences are noted in the variations of the vortex ring diameter and core diameter. A model for the core diameter during the formation stage is proposed. The translational velocity variation with time shows that the second-order accurate formula derived using Hamilton's equation by Fraenkel (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 51, 1972, pp. 119-135) predicts it best.