Phys. Rev. E 80, 046315 (2009) [4 pages]Instability mechanisms and transition scenarios of spiral turbulence in Taylor-Couette flowReceived 20 May 2009; published 23 October 2009 Alternating laminar and turbulent helical bands appearing in shear flows between counterrotating cylinders are accurately computed and the near-wall instability phenomena responsible for their generation identified. The computations show that this intermittent regime can only exist within large domains and that its spiral coherence is not dictated by endwall boundary conditions. A supercritical transition route, consisting of a progressive helical alignment of localized turbulent spots, is carefully studied. Subcritical routes disconnected from secondary laminar flows have also been identified. © 2009 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevE.80.046315
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevE.80.046315
PACS:
47.20.Lz, 47.20.Ft, 47.27.Cn
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