On the evolution of laminar vortex rings

Using Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) and Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV), the physical properties of laminar vortex rings are investigated in the Reynolds-number range 830 less than or equal to Re less than or equal to 1650. The measured initial circulations of the vortex rings are found to agree well with corrected versions of the vorticity-flux (slug-flow) model proposed by Didden and Pullin. The DPIV and LDA data show excellent agreement regarding local velocities and vortex-ring circulations. The DPIV data depict the distribution of the vorticity and circulation in the core regions, where the resulting vorticity distributions are found to be self-similar Gaussian profiles. The propagation velocity of the vortex rings is well approximated by an analytical model of Saffman for large core sizes. In the asymptotic limit t-->infinity, the trajectories are in excellent agreement with the exact Stokes-dipole solution of Cantwell and Rott.