Vortex

A vortex is a spiraling motion of material particles around a common center of rotation. Vortices are one of the most important research areas in fluid dynamics. This comes mainly from two facts. First, vortices have a great impact on the development of a flow in many cases. Second, although a colloquial definition (as above) can be given, there exists no exact mathematical definition of a vortex, its extent or even its center. Thus, finding vortices is challenging and no method fitting for all situations exists.

Examples

Vortices in nature:

• Tornado
• Hurricane
• Wake vortex created at the tip of a wing of an aircraft
• Swirling water that runs through the drain of a basin

References

• Hans J. Lugt, 1996. Introduction to Vortex Theory. Vortex Flow Press, Potomac, Maryland.