Interaction between a vortex filament and an approaching rigid sphere

Abstract

The evolution of an infinitely long straight vortex filament in the presence of an approaching rigid sphere is considered. The fluid is regarded as being inviscid and incompressible. The shape of the vortex filament when the sphere is sufficiently far away from the vortex is determined approximately using linear theory. The subsequent evolution is followed numerically by integrating the nonlinear equation of motion.