Three-dimensional measurements of an inclined vortex ring interacting with a density stratification

Abstract

Vortex rings are self-propagating structures that can transport mass and momentum to locations remote from the ring creation. We focus on the reorganization of a light vortex ring impinging, at a given angle to the vertical, a layer of fluid stably stratified in density, as in many environmental applications. We also examine the stratified layer response with regard to baroclinic vorticity and internal gravity wave generation. The symmetry of both the flow and wave field is preserved over time for normal impacts. For inclined impacts, the flow reorganizes into a vertically flattened dipolar structure and internal gravity waves radiate from two sources that match with the dipole cores.