The project main goal is to establish a national research network on vortex hydro/aerodynamics and practical applications of vortex and swirling flows. The fundamental research is focused on ellucidating the physics of vortex flows, and on developing new mathematical models and numerical techniques for both inviscid as well as unsteady turbulent swirling flows. New matehmatical formulations will be developed using the modern distributions theory. The turbulence modeling for RANS and LES will be improved to deal with large adverse pressure gradients encountered in swirling flows. For turbomachinery swirling flows, as well as for the tip vortex, new helical vortex models will be developed. This will further allow a better understanding, and quantitative description of the vortex breakdown phenomenon. The theoretical developments are used for practical applications in modeling, computing and analyzing vortex flows in hydraulic turbomachines (including draft tube vortex rope occurrence and evolution, tip vortex and the associated vortex cavitation), naval propellers hydrodynamics, lifting surfaces at high angle of attack, atmospheric boundary layer interactions with buildings and structures, fluidic vortex elements, swirl-stabilized combustors. By associating the research teams expertise, the investigations will include both numerical simulations and experiments, according to the current state of the art in research and development. The practical apprications are aimed at improving and optimizing current technical solutions, as well as to design and test new machines and ecquipments.