Vortex ring-cylinder interactions: regimes, reconnection, and the role of topology

Abstract

We investigate the interaction between vortex rings and cylindrical obstacles using direct numerical simulations across a wide range of geometric and dynamical parameters. The flow is characterized in terms of the diameter ratio between ring and object $T_D = d/D$, the Reynolds number based on circulation $Re_\Gamma$, and the slenderness ratio $\Lambda$. By systematically varying $T_D$ and $Re_\Gamma$, we identify three distinct interaction regimes: the wire, cutting, and wall regimes. In the wire regime ($T_D \lesssim 0.05$), the primary vortex ring survives the interaction with limited deformation and carries a weak lobe of secondary vorticity generated by the object's boundary layer. As $T_D$ increases, the interaction transitions to the cutting regime, where the ring is split into two secondary structures formed through the reconnection between boundary-layer and ring vorticity. For sufficiently large obstacles ($T_D \gtrsim 0.8$), the wall regime emerges, in which boundary-layer vorticity dominates and the primary ring is deflected and stretched along the obstacle surface. The transition between regimes depends primarily on $T_D$, while increasing $Re_\Gamma$ enhances vortical dynamics producing additional small-scale and tertiary structures. Finally, by modifying the topology of the obstacle, we demonstrate that reconnection and recovery of the primary ring depend critically on the topology of the secondary vorticity. These results provide a unified framework for interpreting vortex-body interactions, bridging the gap between vortex ring, tube, and wall collision dynamics.