Anatomy of a Bathtub Vortex

A. Andersen, T. Bohr, B. Stenum, J. Juul Rasmussen, and B. Lautrup
Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 104502 – Published 5 September 2003

Abstract

We present experiments and theory for the “bathtub vortex,” which forms when a fluid drains out of a rotating cylindrical container through a small drain hole. The fast down-flow is found to be confined to a narrow and rapidly rotating “drainpipe” from the free surface down to the drain hole. Surrounding this drainpipe is a region with slow upward flow generated by the Ekman layer at the bottom of the container. This flow structure leads us to a theoretical model similar to one obtained earlier by Lundgren [J. Fluid Mech. 155, 381 (1985)], but here including surface tension and Ekman upwelling, comparing favorably with our measurements. At the tip of the needlelike surface depression, we observe a bubble-forming instability at high rotation rates.

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  • Received 11 March 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.104502

©2003 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

A. Andersen1,2,*, T. Bohr1, B. Stenum2, J. Juul Rasmussen2, and B. Lautrup3

  • 1The Technical University of Denmark, Department of Physics, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
  • 2Risø National Laboratory, Optics and Fluid Dynamics Department, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
  • 3The Niels Bohr Institute, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

  • *Present address: Cornell University, Dept. of Theoretical and Applied Mech., Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.

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Vol. 91, Iss. 10 — 5 September 2003

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