Nonshielded multipolar vortices at high Reynolds number

Vortex multipoles-consisting of a core of vorticity closely surrounded by several smaller vorticity concentrations of opposite sign-are obtained from the evolution of vorticity in two-dimensional simulations. Using a meshless vortex method, we obtained triangular and square vortices, surrounded by three and four satellites, respectively. These structures have only been observed before to emerge from zero-circulation initial conditions. We also observed a pentagon vortex. Here, we obtain compound vortices of nonzero total circulation, and suggest a gamut of multipolar asymptotic solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations.