Structures and regimes of shear flow in a plane cavity with translating boundaries

Abstract

Stability of shear flow in a plane cavity whose boundaries translate in opposite directions is analyzed by solving the nonstationary Navier-Stokes equations numerically. It is shown that, depending on the Reynolds number and the cavity aspect ratioH/R, there may exist either a single-vortex, or a multi-eddy, or an intermediate flow regime with a “bridge”, all of which are stable. No oscillatory regime was found forH/L=0.1−10 and Re=1–3000.