The vorticity jump across a flow discontinuity

Abstract

Expressions are obtained for the jump in vorticity across a discontinuity surface which is not a contact surface. Admitting arbitrary motion of the fluid and the discontinuity, the most general of these is established on a purely kinematical basis. More specific expressions are obtained by successively enforcing the momentum equation of the flow and the conditions of conservation of mass and momentum across the discontinuity. Eventually Hayes's (1957) result for a gasdynamic discontinuity is recovered.