Vorticity dynamics and drag for flows over a sphere and a prolate spheroid

The connection between the drag and vorticity dynamics for viscous flow over a bluff body is explored using the Josephson–Anderson (J–A) relation for classical fluids. The instantaneous rate of work on the fluid, associated with the drag force, is related to the vorticity flux across the streamlines of a background potential flow. The vorticity transport itself is examined by aid of the Huggins vorticity-flux tensor. The analysis is performed for three flows: flow over a sphere at Reynolds numbers $Re=200,3700$ , and flow over a prolate spheroid at $Re=3000$ and $20^{\circ }$ incidence. In these flows, the vorticity transport shifts the flow away from and towards the ideal potential flow, with a net balance towards the former effect thus making an appreciable contribution to the drag. The J–A relation is first demonstrated for the flow over a sphere at $Re=200$ . The drag power injection is related to the viscous flux of azimuthal vorticity from the wall into the fluid, and the advection of vorticity by the detached shear layer. In the wake, the azimuthal vorticity is advected towards the wake centreline and is annihilated by viscous effects, which contributes a reduction in drag. The analysis of the flow over a sphere at $Re=3700$ is reported for the impulsively started and stationary stages, with emphasis on the effects of unsteady two-dimensional separation and turbulent transport in the transitional wake. The turbulent flux in the wake enhances the transport of mean azimuthal vorticity towards the wake centreline, and is the main driver of the recovery of enthalpy between the rear point of the sphere and far downstream. The rate of work on the fluid by the drag force for a prolate spheroid is mostly due to the transport of vorticity along the separated boundary layers. Primary and secondary separation contribute oppositely to the power injection by the drag force, while the large-scale vortices only re-distribute vorticity without a net contribution. A mechanism for secondary separation is proposed based on the theory of vortex-induced separation.