Basic sound generation mechanisms in inviscid vortex interactions at low Mach number

Abstract

The sound generation mechanisms during finite core vortex interactions at low Mach number are investigated in the present study. The theoretical deductions show clearly that the basic sound generation mechanisms are associated with the vortex core deformation and the vorticity centroid dynamics, independent of the vortex system. Such deductions are substantiated by numerical experiments with the interactions of two-dimensional vortices, vortex pairs and vortex rings. Detailed discussions on the similarities and differences between the sound generation processes of the two-dimensional and axisymmetric vortex systems are given. The relative importance of the two sound generation mechanisms in these vortex systems, their characteristics and interactions, which are hardly found in existing literature, are also examined. The present findings have also generalized and substantiated the previous results of the authors on the topic. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.