Characteristic scales of vortex domains appearing near irregularities of boundaries

The possibility of the formation of a vortex domain of finite size near com plex boundaries is analysed. For the proposed model, when such a scenario i s attainable, the curve configuration delimiting the non-zero vorticity dom ain is found This curve represents an approximate solution of an integral-d ifferential equation obtained using the proposed model. It is shown that th e vorticity level is a function of the characteristic dimension of the vort ex domain, which depends on the size of the obstacle and is a homogeneous f unction of the Reynolds number. (C) 1999 Academie des sciences/Editions sci entifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.