Related Concept Videos
Irrotational Flow
Turbulent Flow
Couette Flow
Thin-Walled Hollow Shafts
Turbulent Flow: Problem Solving
Temperature is a key factor in CO2 solubility. In this case, the CO2 gas and the liquid are cooled to 20°C. Lower temperatures enhance...
Steady, Laminar Flow Between Parallel Plates
You might also read
Related Articles
Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.
Dynamics of a silicone oil drop submerged in a stratified ethanol-water bath.
Path instability of an air bubble rising in water.
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

Preparation of Free-Surface Hyperbolic Water Vortices
Published on: July 28, 2023
Off-axis vortex breakdown in a shallow whirlpool.
Miguel A Herrada1, Vladimir N Shtern, José María López-Herrera
1Escuela Superior de Ingenieros, Universidad de Sevilla, Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n 41092, Spain.
Vortex breakdown (VB) can occur off-axis in a rotating fluid cylinder. This study reveals how VB emerges in water and air, influenced by rotation speed and water level.
More Related Videos
Area of Science:
- Fluid Dynamics
- Multiphase Flow
- Vortex Dynamics
Background:
- Vortex breakdown (VB) is a complex flow phenomenon crucial in various engineering applications.
- Previous studies primarily focused on axisymmetric or wall-bounded vortex breakdown.
- The behavior of VB in two-fluid systems under rotation remains less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the off-axis emergence of vortex breakdown in a rotating two-fluid system.
- To analyze the influence of rotation speed and fluid interface position on VB characteristics.
- To characterize the development of VB in both water and air regions.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations of a steady axisymmetric flow in a vertical sealed cylinder.
- The cylinder is partially filled with water and driven by a rotating bottom disk.
- Analysis of flow patterns at varying rotation speeds and water heights.
Main Results:
- Vortex breakdown (VB) was observed to emerge off-axis, away from the rotation axis, interface, and walls.
- VB initially forms in the water region and its location (on- or off-axis) depends on water height relative to cylinder radius.
- Increasing rotation leads to the off-axis VB ring interacting with the interface, forming a counter-circulation layer in the air.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates the possibility of off-axis vortex breakdown in a rotating two-fluid system.
- Fluid interface dynamics significantly influence the structure and behavior of vortex breakdown.
- The findings provide new insights into complex vortex dynamics in partially filled rotating cylinders.

