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SUMMARY:Finding the halo: a separated vortex ring underlies the flight of 
 the dandelion - Dr Ignazio Viola\, University of Edinburgh
DTSTART:20191101T130000Z
DTEND:20191101T140000Z
UID:TALK132373@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Connor O'Pray
DESCRIPTION:In this talk I will provide a brief overview of the research o
 n applied fluid dynamics and vortex-dominated flow in my research group\, 
 and I will present in-depth our recent findings on the flight of the dande
 lion fruit (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0604-2). \n\nThe dandelion 
 uses a bundle of bristles\, known as the pappus\, to enhance the drag and 
 to slow down its descent. This passive flight mechanism allows the dandeli
 on to be carried by the wind for even hundreds of miles. The underlying fl
 uid dynamics of this drag-enhancing mechanism was\, however\, unknown. We 
 found that when the dandelion falls\, the air flows through the pappus and
  forms a bubble of recirculating flow. This bubble\, which we named the se
 parated vortex ring (SVR)\, sits stably a few millimetres above the dandel
 ion\, like a halo. \n\nIn this talk I will describe how we discovered this
  extraordinary new type of vortex\, and what we have learnt of it. The dis
 covery of the SVR suggests the existence in nature of a new type of locomo
 tion. We envisage that this discovery might contribute to explain the func
 tion of many hairy structures in the plant and animal kingdoms. We also en
 visage that it may contribute to the design of micro aerial vehicles that 
 will be passively carried by the wind. \n\nThe research on the dandelion f
 ruit is a collaboration with the research groups of Dr Naomi Nakayama (Sch
 ool of Biological Sciences) and Dr Enrico Mastropaolo (School of Engineeri
 ng) at the University of Edinburgh. \n
LOCATION:LR5\, Baker Building\, CUED.
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