Quadruple decomposition of boundary vorticity flux

Abstract

First introduced by Lighthill in 1963 for two-dimensional flows and later generalized by Jie-Zhi Wu to three-dimensional scenarios since 1986, the boundary vorticity flux (BVF) is the cornerstone of boundary vorticity dynamics, which quantifies the vorticity source strength on a solid boundary. Recent advances in vorticity and vortex dynamics have revealed both the rigid-rotation and spin modes of vorticity from multiple perspectives. In the present study, we propose a novel quadruple decomposition of the BVF on a stationary solid wall, which essentially uncovers the boundary creation rates of the elementary vorticity modes for both the tangential and wall-normal BVF components, respectively. The proposed framework is illustrated through skin-friction and surface-pressure measurements for flow over a hill model in a low-speed wind tunnel, revealing a set of intriguing BVF patterns for the first time. These theoretical results are expected to be valuable for global surface flow diagnostics when combined with experiments, as well as for understanding the formation mechanisms of near-wall coherent structures and flow-induced noise.