Dynamics of point vortices and a cylinder in an ideal fluid

Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of the motion of a circular foil and point vortices in an ideal fluid. A complete qualitative analysis of the motion of a balanced foil and one vortex is carried out. In particular, periodic solutions are found and their stability is investigated. Using a Poincaré map, it is shown that for an unbalanced foil a reduced system exhibits chaotic trajectories.