FREE AND FORCED VORTICES

Aim
To determine the free surface profile of free and forced vortex motions in the rotating
water column and to compare the experimental results with the theory.

Theory
The rotation of fluid mass is a crucial factor in many natural and industrial applications.
In many daily life examples, the surface of a rotating fluid is primarily manifested
in two ways: a paraboloid forced vortex and a hyperboloid free vortex. These two
configurations represent distinct physical balances and characteristics, each with its
unique significance and implications.
A forced vortex motion is generated when an external force continuously imparts the
rotation of the fluid. The entire fluid mass rotates like a rigid body by the constant influx
of energy, signifying no relative motion between fluid particles. The streamlines are
circular, signifying no radial velocity component (DA = 0), and the tangential velocity is
D = A$, where A is the radius from the centre, and $ is the rotation rate. Consequently,
the shear stresses are zero everywhere in the flow field. The fluid particles experience
centrifugal force and are balanced by the pressure gradient in the radial direction
%?/%A = ⌧D2 /A = ⌧A$2 , where ⌧ is the fluid density. Since there is no relative motion
between the fluid particles, the pressure gradient along the vertical I direction is
hydrostatic %?/%I = ⌧6, where 6 is the acceleration due to gravity. The free surface is
exposed to the atmosphere; hence, the pressure is the same at every point on the free
surface. Implies 3? = (%?/%A)3A + (%?/%I)3I = 0. Integration of 3? = 0 along the A and
I directions results
A 2 $2
⌘= , (1)
26
where ⌘ is the height of the free surface above the vertex level (see Figure 1a). Equation 1
tells you that the surface profile of the rotating fluid is a paraboloid with a quadratic
dependence of height on radius (⌘ / A 2 ). Contrary to the expectation, the profile
is independent of fluid density ⌧ despite the curvature of the free surface, which, in
the first place, is generated due to centrifugal force, which is a body force directly
proportional to the fluid particle mass. Equation 1 can be expressed in nondimensional

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Fluid Mechanics and Machinery Lab

p p
form as A$/ 26 ⌘ = 1, where A$ is the tangential velocity D . Recall that D / 26 ⌘ is the
p
nondimensional Froude number A. Hence, Equation 1 is the same as A = A$/ 26 ⌘ = 1,
which is valid for all the forced vortex profiles resulting from the steady balance between
centrifugal force and gravity.

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

Figure 1: (a) The paraboloid shape of the fluid surface in the forced vortex. (b) The hyperboloid shape
of the fluid surface in the free vortex. (c) The velocity profile in the forced vortex. The rotation of Dino
shapes denotes the spinning of fluid particles in the forced vortex field and, consequently, the existence of
vorticity. (d) The velocity profile in the free vortex. The non-spinning of Dino shapes represents that the
free vortex field is irrotational.

A free vortex motion differs from a forced vortex due to the absence of external
forcing on the rotating fluid. The fluid rotates because of the forcing applied to the
fluid some time in the past. The rotation is considered a self-sustained motion without
any energy interaction with the outside and without any energy dissipation within
the fluid. The same treatment of forced vortex is also applicable to free vortex, with
a crucial difference in the expression for the tangential velocity of fluid particles. In a
free vortex, the tangential velocity D = ⇠/A, where ⇠ is a constant for a specific profile

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and is calculated by finding ⇠ = D A at any point on the free surface. So, the pressure
gradient along the radial direction becomes %?/%A = ⌧D2 /A = ⌧⇠ 2 /A 3 . The pressure
distribution along the vertical direction is hydrostatic %?/%I = ⌧6. Recalling 3? = 0
condition at the free surface and integrating 3? = 0 leads to the equation of the profile

⇠2
⌘ = ⌘ <0G , (2)
26A 2
where ⌘ <0G is the maximum vortex height (see Figure 1b). Equation 2 shows that the
surface profile is hyperboloid, and like in the forced vortex, the profile is independent of
fluid density. A nonnegligible viscous dissipation in a real fluid like water causes energy
loss in the free vortex. The sustenance of a stable surface profile for a reasonable time
duration for data gathering is a major concern. A way out is to provide a weak forcing
at the outer periphery of the rotating mass to compensate for the losses due to viscous
dissipation.
Finally, vorticity (⌦ = r ⇥ D) is an important parameter to characterise the spinning
of fluid particles in a flow field and can be used to distinguish forced and free vortex
motions. A forced vortex field is rotational (⌦ = r ⇥ D < 0) as opposed to the irrotational
(⌦ = r ⇥ D = 0) free vortex field (see Figure 1c and Figure 1d). For details on vortex
motions, refer to Fluid Mechanics: fundamentals and applications by Cengel et al., 2014.

Experimental setup
The experimental unit consists of a transparent cylindrical tank with a diameter of 250mm
and a 190mm height fixed on a platform, connected with two pairs of diametrically
opposite inlet opening ports fixed to the tank (Figure 2). The first pair is fixed tangentially
to the container, delivering a tangential water stream, and the second pair is fixed radially
with a slight inclination. These ports are controlled by two valves: a selector ball valve for
normal and tangential inlets and a slanted-seat valve for radial discharge regulation and
draining. A pump is used to supply water to the tank via the selector ball valve. The
bottom plate of the tank has a hole in the centre. For the forced vortex experiment, this
hole needs to be filled with a circular closing plate, and a three-blade impeller is to be
inserted into the shaft of the closing plate (see Figure 3d). An orifice plate is inserted into
the hole for the free vortex study. The surface profile of rotating water is recorded using
a gauge that measures the radius and height of the profile (Figure 3a and Figure 3b).

Procedure

Forced vortex
1. Check that the apparatus is level.
2. Seal the drain of the base plate with the closing plate and insert the impeller onto
the shaft.
3. Ensures that the two valves are closed at the beginning.

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(b) Generation of free vortex in the experimen-

(a) Generation of forced vortex in the ex- tal setup.The inset shows a closer view of the
perimental setup. container inside.

Figure 2: The experimental setup

(c) Schematic of Pitot

(a) Gauge arrangement in (b) Gauge arrangement in tube (source: G���
Forced vortex. Free vortex. H������)

(d) Removable components at the base plate.

Figure 3: The experimental setup: components.

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4. Turn on the pump, slowly open the selector ball valve to the left and fill the
container using the tangentially placed water inlets.
5. Water from the inlet ports hits the impeller blades and rotates. The rotation of
the impeller blades now imparts the centrifugal force required to create a forced
vortex.
6. Allow the water to fill the container to the brim level and adjust the slanted-seat
valve to release water from the container to stabilise the water column height.
7. Use gauge needles to measure the radius (A) and distance from the gauge platform
to the free surface (I 1 ).
8. Record the number of rotations of the impeller blades = in C = 10s to calculate the
rotation rate of the fluid ($).
9. Repeat the experiment for a higher rotational rate by slightly increasing the wa-
ter discharge from the tangential inlets. Adjust the slanted-seat valve to stabilise the
fluid to obtain a clean, free surface. Collect data from four different rotational speeds.

! A constant height of the water column must be maintained throughout the

experiment for a specific rotation rate.

! Adjustments in the slanted seated valve manifest slowly in the rotating

fluid. Wait for some time for the system to show the desired changes.

! Begin the experiment with a low impeller rotation speed.

! Take C = 20 s as the time duration to count the impeller rotations for

higher rotational speeds.

! E������� ������� ����� �������� ����� ����� �������.

Free vortex
1. Remove the closing plate from the Forced vortex experiment and insert the orifice
provided to you.
2. Switch on the pump and slowly open the selector ball valve to the right to fill the
container using the water inlets normal to the container surface.
3. Allow the water to reach just below the top edge.
4. Any disturbance to the water surface, such as temporary blocking and release of
the orifice, could generate the hollow air cone structure characterising free vortex
motion.
5. Turn the ball valve slightly to the left to produce weak tangential water streams
to sustain the free vortex motion by overcoming the energy loss due to viscous
effects.
6. Use the measurement gauge to record the radius (A) and the height of the free
surface (⌘).

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Table 1: Observation: gauge reading for the surface profile in forced vortex
r mm 0 30 50 70 90 110
I1 mm
No. of rotations =
in Cs
Calculation:
N rpm =(60/t) n
$ = 2 #/60 rad/s
⌘1 = 328 I1
(mm)
⌘ = ⌘1 ⌘1 (A = 0)
(mm)
Theoretical
⌘ = (A 2 $2 )/26
(mm)
A$ m/s
p
26 ⌘ m/s

7. Use the Pitot tube to measure the water column height ⌘ above the free surface
at a specific radius (see Figure 3c).
8. Ensure that the height of the water column is constant throughout the experiment.

The placement of the Pitot tube hole is critical for accurate flow velocity measurements.
Ensure the hole is parallel to the flow direction (see Figure 3c).

Use the Pitot tube at four different radial locations to measure the fluid veloc-
ity.

Observation

Sample calculation

Density of water ⌧ = 103 kg/m3

Follow the steps given in the Calculation Table.

Forced vortex

Important points:

• I 1 is the distance between the gauge needle tip and the gauge platform, as shown
in Figure 3a (i.e., the distance between the free surface and the gauge platform).

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Table 2: Observation: gauge reading for the surface profile in free vortex
r mm
h mm ⌘ <0G =
Pitot tube reading
⌘ (mm)
Calculation. Take 6 = 9810mm/s2 .
Velocity
p
D = 26 ⌘
(mm/s)
⇠ = D A
(mm2 /s)
Theoretical
⌘ = ⌘ <0G ⇠ 2 /26A 2
(mm)

• The distance between the bottom of the container and the gauge platform is
328mm.
• ⌘ 1 is the distance between the free surface and the bottom of the container.
• ⌘ 1 (A = 0) is the value of ⌘ 1 for radius A = 0.
• For calculations in which units are given in mm (see the Table), take 6 =
9810mm/s2 .

Free vortex
Important points:

• The value of ⇠ = D A is a constant at all points of the surface of a free vortex.

• Take 6 = 9810mm/s2 for the calculations.

Results and inference

Plots:

1. Forced vortex: ⌘ mm (y-axis) Vs A mm (x-axis). Include the theoretical relation.

p
2. Forced vortex: 26 ⌘ m/s (y-axis) Vs A$ m/s (x-axis). Include the theoretical
relation. Measure the slope after fitting a line.
3. Free vortex: ⌘ mm (y-axis) Vs A mm (x-axis). Include the theoretical relation.

Discuss the sources of errors in your measurements. Discuss in detail the deviations of the
experimental data from the vortex theory, if any.

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 B�����������

Cengel, Y. and J. Cimbala (2014). Fluid mechanics: fundamentals and applications. McGraw Hill.

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