Hurricane Sandy fluid mechanics simulation(animated GIFs linked in updates)

Real data is plugged into a dynamic code that will simulate the hurricane graphically on a map.
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Updated 23 Mar 2020

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The code is full of notes. The word file offers more explanation, including the dynamic portions of the code which allow it to be used for any hurricane.
The code is an answer to the following :
1
ME G0200 Applied Fluid Mechanics
HW #2: Flowlines of Hurricane Sandy (Equivalent to a quiz)
This is an intense hurricane season and this assignment aims at some understanding of the basic
fluid mechanical features of hurricanes. A hurricane can be considered, after some significant
simplifications, as a vortex of circulation Γ carried away by its self-induced velocity Uc applied at
its center. The vortex can be assumed as a two-dimensional line vortex of infinite length with its
axis perpendicular to wind velocity all the times.
The circulation is defined as  U rd
C
  r where Ur is the radial component on a circle C which
encloses the vortex. If you consider C to be the outer circle of the core of the vortex i.e. the eye of
the hurricane, then r c U 2r ,max   . You can find typical values of Ur, max from hurricane Sandy
data in the web.
You can also find information of location of the center of the hurricane in Geographic coordinate
system x, y (latitude and longitude), time, ground speed (=Uc) and maximum speed at the tip of
the core (=Ur, max)
Typical values for Ur, max are between 60 to 80 miles/h. Try to find the size of the core from other
web sites. You have to superimpose the translational velocity field with the rotational induced
flow field Ur and u where u is given by u  / 2r .
At time t=0 the vortex is at the origin of the coordinate system (0, 0) which is somewhere in the
Caribbean.
2
1. You need to establish Isaac’s UC velocity from the information of its location (x, y)
along its path by computing the velocity components dx/dt and dy/dt as a function of
(x, y)
2. Estimate its strength Γ as a function of time/location (x, y) along its path from
r c U 2r ,max   You need to know rc as a function of time for this. If you cannot find it
assume it is 5km.
3. Find the streamlines, pathlines and streaklines of the flow field passing through the point
(x0, y0) which is the location of Miami. Use several values of (x0, y0) to demonstrate the
effects on other cities like New York, Philadelphia, Havana etc...
4. Draw the streamlines, pathlines and streaklines of the two-dimensional flow field with
values of parameters according to your selection and put the regional map in the
background.
Plot streamlines which correspond to fraction of the time needed to arrive in (x0, y0) which is
given by 0
2 1 2
0
2
0 ( x y ) / U /  . This time is of the order of a few days.
Plot pathlines passing through several points (x0, y0) for all times.
Plot streaklines passing through several points (x0, y0) for all times.
(x0, y0)= various cities
Use only numerical techniques (not exact solutions) to compute the flowlines mentioned above.
You should program in symbolic language MATLAB only and submit m-files. Your m files
should run by itself and through past and run.
You are also free to plot the results on any software package you have available.
In order to have meaningful results determine, by trial and error, a more restricted range of what
is suggested above.
You are required to submit:
1. A report, which will contain the programming you carried out and the graphs properly
plotted and explained on the same figure.
2. A cd with a copy of your .m file with the program and the word file with your report.
Your program will be tested with the input data from the range mentioned above.
No email submission!!
Due October 16, 2013.
Your grade will be based mostly on:
1. Completeness of the program. Several tests with different initial points will be tried.
2. Robustness of your program. The program should work for almost any point. Make sure
there is no division by zero. Test with various values of (x0, y0) coordinates.
3. Quality of graphs and plotting.

Cite As

Yussef Rikli (2024). Hurricane Sandy fluid mechanics simulation(animated GIFs linked in updates) (https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/50575-hurricane-sandy-fluid-mechanics-simulation-animated-gifs-linked-in-updates), MATLAB Central File Exchange. Retrieved .

MATLAB Release Compatibility
Created with R2009a
Compatible with any release
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hw2 submitted/

Version Published Release Notes
1.5.0.0

added links to gifs and noted it in title

1.0.0.0

the animated weather map that results from running the code looks like the following:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pnbh76tyx46nnru/first%20gif.gif?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8crioc1f9tc3hah/sandy%20rest%20of%20cities.gif?dl=0