Analysis of velocity data to determine the structure of tornado-like vortices

by Beer, Christopher Patrick.

ANALYSIS OF VELOCITY DATA TO DETERMINE THE STRUCTURE OF TORNADO-LIKE VORTICES by Christopher Patrick Beer The goal of this thesis is to provide a detailed examination of the vertical and tangential velocity profiles within the supercritical core of a vortex for a wide range of swirl ratios and surface roughness. This is possible due to the development of an innovative analytical procedure and its application to high quality experimental data that was previously obtained in the Miami University Tornado Vortex Chamber. Analysis of Velocity Data to Determine the Structure of Tornado-like Vortices A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Miami University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Physics by Christopher Patrick Beer Miami University Oxford, Ohio 2006 Advisor__________________________ Dr. Christopher R. Church Reader__________________________ Dr. Herbert Jaeger Reader__________________________ Dr. Douglas Marcum