Vortex rings : a probe for Turbulence ?

How does a vortex ring evolve in a turbulent environment ? We investigate this question by performing a scattering experiment in which a vortex ring is shot through a turbulent background flow. We track the evolution of the vortex loop and the turbulent flow using either particle image velocimetry (PIV) or vorticity line tracking. I will present our observations of how the ring deforms and stretches as it wrestles with the background turbulence and discuss how this type of experiment could tell us more about the dynamical evolution of structures in a turbulent flow.