Propagation of Taylor Vortex Fronts into Unstable Circular Couette Flow

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Explicit finite-difference numerical solutions of the time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations for axisymmetric flow between concentric cylinders are presented for propagating Taylor vortex fronts. They are a prototype example for the expansion of a periodic pattern into regions occupied by an unstable homogeneous basic state—here circular Couette flow. The propagation speed and the evolution of the periodic state behind the front are determined quantitatively as functions of Reynolds number for systems with three different radius ratios.