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Trapping of a flexible disk in a vortical flow: Reconstruction process, measurements, and theory
Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 044302 – Published 6 April, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/tn6w-6xy6
Abstract
Thin-heavy-flexible disks are observed orbiting at a quasistable radial position from the axis of a strong vortex. Given that the disks are denser than the fluid, it is surprising that they persist in orbit rather than being centrifuged away from the vortex. A 3D reconstruction technique was used to track both the position and deformation of the thin flexible disk, providing insight into the mechanisms underlying the trapping phenomenon. The reconstruction process uses shape-from-silhouette to define an initial 3D reconstruction, which is subsequently refined by minimizing a cost function based on physical and visual criteria. The results of the 3D reconstruction measurements are presented and compared with a phenomenological model. The analysis shows that orbital stability depends on a combination of vortex parameters (strength and core size) and particle parameters (trajectory curvature, surface curvature, angle of inclination, and slip velocity).
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