Vortex dynamics associated with the collision of a sphere with a wall

For moderate Reynolds numbers, a sphere striking a wall in the normal direction leads to the trailing recirculating wake threading over the sphere and developing into a complex vortex ring system as it interacts with the wall. The primary vortex ring, which consists of vorticity from the wake, persists and convects slowly outwards away from the sphere due to the motion induced from its image. The structure and evolution of this vortex system is quantified through a combined experimental and numerical study. At higher Reynolds numbers a non-axisymmetric instability develops, which leads to rapid dispersion of the ring system. A comparison of the wavelength and growth rate, predicted from both linear stability theory and direct simulations, with idealized models indicates that the mechanism is dominated by a centrifugal instability at the edge of the primary vortex core. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.1773854]