Dynamical Behaviour of Taylor Vortices with Superimposed Axial Flow

Abstract

We present theoretical and experimental results on the stability and time-behaviour of instabilities in circular Couette flow with superimposed axial flow. Linear stability theory is used within the small gap approximation to explain the stability and dynamics of the instabilities in form of ring and spiral vortices. Ring vortices can travel only in the direction of throughflow. In contrast, spiral vortices can be obtained either in a steady state or time — dependent travelling in the direction or in opposite direction of the throughflow. The travelling direction depends on the ratio of the Taylor number to the throughflow Reynolds number. With throughflow as an initial condition a new secondary instability is found at high Taylor numbers.