RESUMO

In this work, the temporal evolution of a low swirl- number turbulent Batchelor vortex is studied using direct numerical simulations. The physics of the evolution is investigated with an emphasis on the various mechanisms that influence the transport of axial and angular momentum. Two new conserved quantities are derived and these prove to be useful in achieving a better understanding of the transport process. The formation and evolution of structures that generate mean counter-signed axial and azimuthal vorticity (in an opposite sense to the initial vorticity) appears to play a key role in momentum transport. The characteristics, generation and evolution of the Reynolds stresses is also addressed.