Flow in a small annulus between concentric cylinders

Abstract

Rotationally symmetric vortex flows between concentric cylinders with the inner one rotating and the outer one at rest have been investigated by numerical simulation and by laser-Doppler velocimetry for an annulus of aspect ratio Γ = 1.05 with a radius ratio η = 0.5066. Stationary states and relaxation towards them were explored close to the transition from the primary flow, which is mirror symmetric with respect to the midplane of the annulus, to a flow which gradually loses the symmetry. Detailed comparison of numerically simulated and measured velocity fields is made.