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ME 319 Fluid Mechanics Laboratory

Fall 2014

Department of Engineering

Indiana University Purdue University- Fort Wayne

Study in Vorticity

Josh Weaver, Julian Velazquez, Austin Swihart

10/19/2014
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Table of Contents

Section Page#

Part C. Effects of Vorticity on flow rates and flow times.

C.1. Raw data collected from added vorticity and no added vorticity.....3-4

C.2. Processed data including plots, conclusions and videos...............5-7

C.3. Conclusions from the interpretation of data........7-10

Part D. Effects of the Size of the Exit Orifice on the Magnitude of Vorticity

D.1. Raw Data including tables of collected values...11-12

D.2. Processed data including plots, video and figures supporting conclusions13-14

D.3. Conclusions from the interpretation of data....15-17

Part C. Effects of Vorticity on Flow Rates and Flow Times

C.1. Raw Data Collected From Added Vorticity and No Added Vorticity

Table 1: Drain Times with No Vorticity Added

Time (s)
Level
Marker 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
1 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2 30.00 7.00 2.00 1.00 0.80 0.55 0.45 0.33 0.23 0.16
3 63.00 14.00 5.00 2.00 1.64 1.16 0.89 0.63 0.44 0.30
4 96.00 22.00 7.00 3.00 2.48 1.80 1.34 0.96 0.69 0.51
5 128.00 29.00 10.00 4.00 3.41 2.42 1.82 1.25 0.92 0.67
6 163.00 37.00 13.00 6.00 4.27 3.09 2.30 1.57 1.11 0.84
7 201.00 45.00 16.00 7.00 5.18 3.76 2.80 1.92 1.38 1.02
8 240.00 54.00 19.00 8.00 6.19 4.47 3.32 2.28 1.63 1.23
9 283.00 63.00 22.00 10.00 7.22 5.19 3.90 2.64 1.86 1.42
10 330.00 73.00 25.00 11.00 8.27 6.00 4.46 3.06 2.17 1.62
11 372.00 82.00 29.00 13.00 9.40 6.79 5.03 3.44 2.44 1.86
12 420.00 93.00 33.00 14.00 10.54 7.61 5.69 3.89 2.76 2.10

Table 1 shows the recorded time at which the water level passes each 0.5 level marker on our

test tank. The above data was taken with no added vorticity to the water. The bottle was simply

filled to the top marker and then drained. The test was done for each cap opening percentage.
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Table 2: Drain Times with Vorticity Added

Time (s)
Level
Marker 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
1 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2 20.00 6.00 2.00 1.00 1.00 0.51 0.46 0.26 0.18 0.13
3 49.00 12.00 4.00 2.00 2.00 1.04 0.96 0.62 0.35 0.24
4 81.00 20.00 7.00 4.00 4.00 1.83 1.48 0.98 0.56 0.36
5 126.00 28.00 10.00 7.00 5.00 2.65 2.08 1.28 0.73 0.59
6 159.00 36.00 13.00 9.00 7.00 3.52 2.68 1.68 0.91 0.81
7 183.00 45.00 16.00 11.00 9.00 4.41 3.48 2.08 1.32 1.22
8 221.00 53.00 19.00 13.00 10.00 5.35 4.26 2.60 1.59 1.60
9 263.00 63.00 22.00 16.00 12.00 6.41 5.10 3.22 1.98 1.92
10 305.00 72.00 25.00 18.00 14.00 7.43 5.90 3.82 2.51 2.26
11 351.00 82.00 29.00 20.00 16.00 8.48 6.84 4.44 3.03 2.72
12 399.00 92.00 32.00 23.00 18.00 9.81 7.80 5.16 3.70 3.20

Table 2 shows the recorded time at which the water level passes each 0.5 level marker on our

test tank. The above data was taken with added vorticity to the water. The bottle was simply

filled to the top marker, a vorticity was applied using a stir rod, and after the vorticity settled for

five seconds, the tank was drained. The test was done for each cap opening percentage.
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C.2. Processed Data Including Plots, Conclusions, and Videos

Figure 1: Water Level and Drain Time with No Vorticity Added

Level Marker vs. Drain Time- No Vorticity

250.00
200.00
150.00
100.00
50.00
0.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Level Marker
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Figure 2: Water Level and Drain Time with No Vorticity Added (40%-100% Orifices)

Level Marker vs. Drain Time-No Vorticity 40-100%

8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Level Marker

40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Figure 1 expresses the drain time and the water level in terms of each 0.5in. marker on the test

tank. While this graph shows a line for each of the ten orifice diameters, it does not effectively

show the data for the 40%-100% openings. This data is expressed on Figure 2. Figure 1 and
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Figure 2 have no added vorticity. From this representation of the data, it is observed that the

drain time decreases with increasing orifice diameter.

Figure 3: Water Level and Drain Time with Vorticity Added

Level Marker vs. Drain Time- Vorticity

250.00
200.00
150.00
100.00
50.00
0.00
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Level Marker

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Figure 4: Water Level and Drain Time with Vorticity Added (40%-100% Orifices)

Level Marker vs. Drain Time- Vorticity 40-100%

20.00

15.00
Time (s)

10.00

5.00

0.00
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Level Marker
40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Figure 3 expresses the drain time and the water level in terms of each 0.5in. marker on the test

tank. While this graph shows a line for each of the ten orifice diameters, it does not effectively

show the data for the 40%-100% openings. This data is expressed on Figure 4. Figure 3 and
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Figure 4 have added vorticity. From this representation of the data, it is observed that the drain

time decreases with increasing orifice diameter. There are accompanying videos explaining and

demonstrating the procedure (Videos 1 & 2, respectively) on the supplied USB (\Fluid

Mechanics\Phase 2\Video 1 and \Fluid Mechanics\Phase 2\Video 2).

C.3. Conclusions from The Interpretation of Data

C.3.1- Vorticity and Volume Flow Rates

Vorticity has a considerable effect on volume flow rates. By a simple comparison of Table 1

and Table 2, it can be observed that the amount of time it takes to drain a tank with added

vorticity takes longer than the amount of time to drain the same tank with the same orifice and no

vorticity added. For example, it took 10.54 seconds to drain the 50% orifice test with added

vorticity. The same tank and orifice took 18.00 seconds to drain when no vorticity was added.

This observation remains somewhat consistent throughout the testing for all the different cap

openings. With the smaller orifice openings such as 10% and 20% caps, the vorticity was given

more time to dissipate therefore, the volume flow rates were relatively the same when you look

at the comparison of time it took to drain the tank with and without added vorticity. When

vorticity is added to a column of water that is being drained, the volume flow rate will decrease.

The amount of decrease depends on the size of the opening that the water is being drained from.

C.3.2- Vorticity and Drain Times between Individual Markers

Vorticity increases the drain times between individual markers. In general, this can be observed

by the simple fact that it took longer to drain a tank when vorticity was added. If we look at the

topic more specifically though, it becomes more clear. For example, by comparing values in

Table 1 and Table 2, it takes 0.80 seconds compared to 1.00 second to drain the 50% orifice test
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when vorticity is added. Again, this conclusion remains consistent throughout the data when

comparing the tests with added vorticity and the tests with no added vorticity. When vorticity is

added to a column of draining water, the drain times between the 0.5 marks on the tank will

increase compared to the same test where no vorticity is added. While this is true generally, it is

not true for all cases. The drain time was actually decreased between markers in the beginning

stages of draining for the 10%-30% orifice openings when vorticity was added. In other words,

when the orifice is small enough and the water level is high enough, added vorticity made the

tank drain quicker compared to the test done where no vorticity was added. In conclusion, if you

want to look at the topic of drain times between markers and how vorticity effects the drain time

more specifically, the results depend on the water level and the size of the orifice opening.

However in general, when vorticity is added, the drain time between markers decreases.

C.3.3- Vorticity and Total Drain Times

Added vorticity has a varying effect on the amount of total drain time. If you compare data from

Table 1 and Table 2, you will notice that the total time it takes to drain a tank to the twelfth

mark is longer when vorticity was added. Again, looking at the example with the 50% orifice

opening, it took 18.00 seconds compared to 10.54 seconds to drain the tank when vorticity was

added. This same observation, however, cannot be made when you look at all the other total

drain times. The total drain times for the 10%-30% cap openings is actually an average of one

second less than their drain times when no vorticity is added. The test with the 40% opening

shows an important turning point in the data. For the 40%-100% orifices, the total drain times

increased when vorticity was added.

C.3.4- Decreases and Increases Associated with the Size of the Exit Orifice

Many different trends can be observed when comparing the different orifice sizes. When the

orifice size increases for the test with no vorticity added; volume flow rate increases, drain times

decrease between markers, and total drain times decrease. When the orifice size increases for the

test with vorticity added; volume flow rate increases, drain times decrease between markers, and

total drain times decrease. This is only for comparing the orifice sizes to each other. These

conclusions can only be made separately for the tests with vorticity added and the tests with no

vorticity added. The data in Table 1 and the data in Table 2 both lead to similar results when

comparing orifice diameters.

C.3.5- How Increases and Decreases Vary with Decreasing Exit Area

As the exit area increases, the volume flow rates for each percentage of orifice opening increases

as well. This would make sense because more water is allowed to exit the tank at a faster rate.

The observation of increasing volume flow rates with increasing orifice diameters was evident in

both cases where vorticity was added and where there was not added. This can be observed

graphically in Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, and Figure 4 because volume flow rate is a function

of time and the set volume of water in the tank is being drained in a shorter amount of time when

the orifice diameter increases from 10% to 100%. The relationship between volume flow rates

and exit diameters is linear. Also, related to the volume flow rates, the drain time between each

level marker on the tank decreases with increasing orifice diameter. As a result, the total drain

time it takes to drain the entire tank decreased as the orifice diameter increased. These trends in

the data were common among both the tests with and without vorticity added. The comparisons

can also be done between tests with and without vorticity. The volume flow rate decreases when

vorticity is added. This is evident because the tank takes longer to drain when vorticity is added.
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The time it takes to drain the tanks, as well as the time it takes to drain between level markers,

decreases with increased vorticity.

C.3.6- Supporting Evidence and Conclusions

Table 1, Table 2, Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, and Figure 4 provide all the supporting

evidence for section C. While the data from Table 1 and Table 2 provide specific values, the

plots of the data show important trends related to the drain times and the volume flow rates when

vorticity is added and when it is not added. Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, and Figure 4 all

consist of a positive slope. This tells us that the total time to drain the tank is increasing with the

increase of orifice diameter. This, along with the fact that drain times increase with added

vorticity, is the basis for all conclusions made in section C.

C.3.7- Summary Statement

In section C we can conclude that added vorticity decreases the volume flow rate, increases drain

times between markers, and increases the total drain times. Similar trends can be observed when

comparing the increases and decreases between orifice diameters. For both the added vorticity

case and the case where no vorticity is added; Volume flow rate increases with increasing orifice

diameters, drain time between markers increases with increasing orifice diameters, and total

drain times increase with increasing orifice diameters. All the data is shown in the figures and

tables above.
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Part D. Effects of The Size of The Exit Orifice On The Magnitude of Vorticity

D.1- Raw Data including tables of collected values

Table 3: Surface Vorticity

Vorticity (cps)
Level
Marker 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
1 3.10 4.33 6.00 6.00 3.00 5.88 2.17 3.85 2.78 2.31
2 1.31 3.00 5.00 6.00 3.50 6.60 3.00 2.78 2.94 4.55
3 0.44 2.00 3.33 2.00 2.00 5.06 3.85 3.33 4.76 4.17
4 0.18 1.75 3.33 1.33 4.50 5.49 3.33 5.00 5.88 2.61
5 0.12 1.50 2.67 3.00 2.25 5.17 4.17 3.75 5.56 3.64
6 0.08 1.33 2.67 2.00 2.00 4.49 3.75 4.25 3.66 2.44
7 0.05 1.25 2.67 3.00 4.00 4.26 3.85 3.85 6.67 2.63
8 0.05 1.00 2.00 1.33 2.25 4.25 3.57 3.55 5.13 4.69
9 0.00 0.89 2.67 3.00 2.50 4.90 4.38 4.17 4.15 4.41
10 0.00 0.80 1.50 2.00 2.50 4.76 3.72 4.03 4.62 4.35
11 0.00 0.80 2.00 1.33 2.50 3.76 3.65 4.17 3.73 4.17

Table 3 expresses the vorticity between each level marker of the tank as the tank drains for

various orifice diameters ranging from 10%-100%. Vorticity was applied to the column of water

by using a stirring rod and stirring to an angular velocity of 1.5 cycles per second. Once the

water had an initial vorticity, the water was given 5 seconds to settle in order to return to the first

level marker on the test tank. Table 3 is for the vorticity on the free surface of the water.
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Table 4: Submersible Vorticity

Vorticity (cps)
Level
Marker 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
1 2.00 2.67 4.00 6.00 2.00 3.92 3.48 5.38 5.56 7.69
2 0.14 1.33 3.00 4.00 2.00 4.15 3.60 4.44 5.88 9.09
3 0.00 1.00 1.33 1.00 1.00 3.04 4.23 4.44 5.71 6.67
4 0.00 0.50 2.00 0.67 2.00 2.68 3.33 5.33 5.88 3.48
5 0.00 0.50 1.33 1.00 1.00 2.76 4.00 4.50 7.78 3.64
6 0.00 0.44 0.67 2.00 2.00 2.92 3.00 4.00 3.41 1.95
7 0.00 0.00 1.33 2.00 2.00 2.77 3.33 3.85 5.56 2.63
8 0.00 0.00 1.33 0.67 2.00 2.45 3.33 3.55 3.59 3.13
9 0.00 0.00 0.67 1.00 2.00 2.55 3.75 4.00 3.40 4.12
10 0.00 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.00 2.67 2.98 4.19 3.85 5.22
11 0.00 0.00 0.67 0.67 1.00 2.11 2.71 3.61 4.48 8.33

Table 4 expresses the vorticity between each level marker of the tank as the tank drains for

various orifice diameters ranging from 10%-100%. Vorticity was applied to the column of water

by using a stirring rod and stirring to an angular velocity of 1.5 cycles per second. Once the

water had an initial vorticity, the water was given 5 seconds to settle in order to return to the first

level marker on the test tank. Table 4 is for the submersible vorticity below the surface of the

water.
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D.2. Processed Data Including Plots and Figures that Support Conclusions

Figure 5: Surface Vorticity Curve Fit

Vorticity vs. Level Marker- Surface

6.00

5.00

4.00
Vorticity (cps)

3.00

2.00

1.00

0.00
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
-1.00
Level Marker

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Figure 5 expresses the trends in the data collected for Table 3. This plot is not the actual data

points from the collected data. First each cure was plotted using the data points for each orifice

diameter. Then, a curve was fit to the data spline in order to obtain a plot where the trends in the

vorticity for each orifice diameter and each level marker could more easily be observed. Figure

5 is a graph for the surface vorticity.

Figure 6: Submersible Vorticity Curve Fit

Vorticity vs. Level Marker- Submersible

7.00

6.00

5.00
Vorticity (cps)

4.00

3.00

2.00

1.00

0.00
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
-1.00
Level Markers

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Figure 6 expresses the trends in the data collected for Table 4. This plot is not the actual data

points from the collected data. First each cure was plotted using the data points for each orifice

diameter. Then, a curve was fit to the data spline in order to obtain a plot where the trends in the

vorticity for each orifice diameter and each level marker could more easily be observed. Figure

6 is a graph for the submersible vorticity. There are also accompanying videos (Videos 3 & 4)

explaining and demonstrating the procedures for the surface and submersible vorticity meters on

the USB drive (\Fluid Mechanics\Phase 2\Video 3 and \Fluid Mechanics\Phase 2\Video 4).
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D.3. Conclusions from the Interpretation of Data

D.3.1.1- Exit Orifice and Magnitude of Free Surface Vorticity

By observing the data from Table 3 as well as the trends in the vorticity from Figure 5, the topic

of vorticity for each orifice diameter can effectively be studied. The first and most obvious

observation is that the surface vorticity increases as the orifice diameter increases. This can be

seen by the simple fact that the final surface vorticity for each percentage orifice opening

increases. For example, for the 10% cap, the final surface vorticity was 0 cps where the final

surface vorticity for the 100% cap was 4.17cps. This means that in general, we should expect the

surface vorticity to increase with increasing orifice openings.

D.3.1.2- Surface Vorticity Patterns with Decreasing Exit Areas

The surface vorticity has a very interesting pattern with decreasing exit areas. When referring to

Figure 5, you will notice that the 70%-100% caps experience an increase in surface vorticity

from level marker to level marker. This same pattern is not true for the 10%-60% caps that were

tested. For the smaller cap sizes, the vorticity curves actually decreased. From this information,

we can conclude that for the 10%-60% orifices, the vorticity is dissipating due to the lack of

volume flow rate. On the other hand, the surface vorticity is increasing for the 70%-100%

orifices due to the increase in volume flow rate. With decreasing exit areas, the vorticity

decreases.

D.3.1.3- Related Evidence for Surface Vorticity Trends

All the evidence for the surface vorticity increases and decreases can be found in Table 3 and

Figure 5. Figure 5 shows that a decrease in exit areas causes a decrease in the vorticity. It also
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shows that there is a trend that takes place where the vorticity switches from increasing between

each level marker to decreasing between each level marker. It can be safely assumed that the

point at which vorticity remains relatively constant is somewhere around the 75% orifice

opening. All other specific conclusions are stated in the previous sections for surface vorticity

(experiments 1 and 2).

D.3.2.1- Exit Orifice and Magnitude of Submerged Vorticity

By observing the data from Table 4 as well as the trends in the vorticity from Figure 6, the topic

of vorticity for each orifice diameter can effectively be studied. The first and most obvious

observation is that the submersible vorticity increases as the orifice diameter increases. This can

be seen by the simple fact that the final submerged vorticity for each percentage orifice opening

increases. For example, for the 10% cap, the final submersible vorticity was 0 cps where the

final surface vorticity for the 100% cap was 8.33 cps. This means that in general, we should

expect the submersible vorticity to increase with increasing orifice openings.

D.3.2.2- Submersible Vorticity Patterns with Decreasing Exit Areas

As the exit area of the orifices decrease, the submersible vorticity decreases. This is shown in

Table 4 where the final submersible vorticity dropped by an average of about 1.0 cps with each

10% orifice diameter decrease going from 90% opening to 40% opening. Unlike the surface

vorticity data, Figure 6 shows that the submersible vorticity has a common pattern for all the cap

openings ranging from 10% to 100%. Between each level marker, the submersible vorticity is

decreases. This is obvious because each line representing each orifice opening has a decreasing

trend.
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D.3.2.3- Related Evidence for Submersible Vorticity Trends

All of the evidence for the conclusions drawn in the above D.3.2 sections on submersible

vorticity can be found in Table 4 and Figure 6. The major trend to observe in Figure 6 is that

for the individual orifice percent openings, the curve is always decreasing. When the orifice

diameter is decreasing, the vorticity is always decreasing. The decrease occurs when comparing

different cap diameters as well as when you look at the data for single cap trend lines. As the

water drains from the tank, the vorticity is always decreasing no matter what the cap opening

percentage is. More specific analysis of these trends can be found in the other sections on

submersible vorticity. Videos of the testing process (Videos 1 through 4) can be found on the

attached USB drive under the directory \Fluid Mechanics\Phase 2.

D.3.4- Surface and Submerged Vorticity Summary

The surface and submerged vorticity will always decrease with decreasing orifice diameter. This

is a significant trend that can be seen in Figure 5 and Figure 6. Each individual line represents

the vorticity trend for one orifice diameter. When comparing the lines to each other, the values

of vorticity decreases from 100% opening to 10% opening. This is due to the fact that the drain

times are so slow for the smaller openings. For submersible vorticity, the trend lines are all

decreasing. For the surface vorticity, 0%-60% cap openings have decreasing trend lines where

70%-100% cap openings are increasing trend lines. There becomes a point in the surface

vorticity where the vorticity is no longer decreasing while the water is being drained. The

surface vorticity begins to increase as the water is drained.