The Motion of a Point Vortex in Multiply-Connected Polygonal Domains

We study the motion of a single point vortex in simply- and multiply-connected polygonal domains. In the case of multiply-connected domains, the polygonal obstacles can be viewed as the cross-sections of 3D polygonal cylinders. First, we utilize conformal mappings to transfer the polygonal domains onto circular domains. Then, we employ the Schottky-Klein prime function to compute the Hamiltonian governing the point vortex motion in circular domains. We compare between the topological structures of the contour lines of the Hamiltonian in symmetric and asymmetric domains. Special attention is paid to the interaction of point vortex trajectories with the polygonal obstacles. In this context, we discuss the effect of symmetry breaking, and obstacle location and shape on the behavior of vortex motion.

Point vortex interactions on a toroidal surface

Owing to non-constant curvature and a handle structure, it is not easy to imagine intuitively how flows with vortex structures evolve on a toroidal surface compared with those in a plane, on a sphere and a flat torus. In order to cultivate an insight into vortex interactions on this manifold, we derive the evolution equation for N-point vortices from Green's function associated with the Laplace-Beltrami operator there, and we then formulate it as a Hamiltonian dynamical system with the help of the symplectic geometry and the uniformization theorem. Based on this Hamiltonian formulation, we show that the 2-vortex problem is integrable. We also investigate the point vortex equilibria and the motion of two-point vortices with the strengths of the same magnitude as one of the fundamental vortex interactions. As a result, we find some characteristic interactions between point vortices on the torus. In particular, two identical point vortices can be locally repulsive under a certain circumstance.

Force-enhancing vortex equilibria for two parallel plates in uniform flow

A two-dimensional potential flow in an unbounded domain with two parallel plates is considered. We examine whether two free point vortices can be trapped near the two plates in the presence of a uniform flow and observe whether these stationary point vortices enhance the force on the plates. The present study is an extension of previously published work in which a free point vortex over a single plate is investigated. The flow problem is motivated by an airfoil design problem for the double wings. Moreover, it also contributes to a design problem for an efficient wind turbine with vertical blades. In order to obtain the point-vortex equilibria numerically, we make use of a linear algebraic algorithm combined with a stochastic process, called the Brownian ratchet scheme. The ratchet scheme allows us to capture a family of stationary point vortices in multiply connected domains with ease. As a result, we find that stationary point vortices exist around the two plates and they enhance the downward force and the counter-clockwise rotational force acting on the two plates.