SYMMETRIC AND ASYMMETRIC TAYLOR VORTEX FLOW IN SPHERICAL GAPS

The rotationally symmetric flow between two concentric rotating spheres is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The non-uniqueness of the supercritical flow exhibits three different modes with zero, one and two Taylor vortices in each hemisphere. These modes are realized by different accelerations of the inner sphere from the state at rest. A initial value code, based on a finite difference method, is used for the numerical simulation. The existence regions of the different supercritical flows are connected with symmetric and asymmetric transitions. It is found, that a steady state can exist asymmetric with respect to the equator. The flow is analyzed by plotting the size of the Taylor vortices, the depending variables ψ, ζ, V, the velocity distributions and the torque. A comparison between theory and experiments for the observed modes of flow is given. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.