Tricritical spiral vortex instability in cross-slot flow

Haward, Simon J, Poole, Robert J ORCID: 0000-0001-6686-4301, Alves, Manuel A, Oliveira, Paulo J, Goldenfeld, Nigel and Shen, Amy Q (2016) Tricritical spiral vortex instability in cross-slot flow. Physical Review E: Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics, 93 (3). 031101-.

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Abstract

We examine fluid flow through cross-slot devices with various depth to width ratios α . At low Reynolds number, Re, flow is symmetric and a sharp boundary exists between the two incoming fluid streams. Above an α -dependent critical value, R e c ( α ) , a steady symmetry-breaking bifurcation occurs and a spiral vortex structure develops. Order parameters characterizing the instability grow according to a sixth-order Landau potential, and show a progression from second- to first-order transitions as α increases beyond a tricritical value of α ≈ 0.55 . Flow simulations indicate the instability is driven by vortex stretching at the stagnation point.

Item Type:	Article
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	12 Apr 2016 11:17
Last Modified:	16 Dec 2022 15:20
DOI:	10.1103/PhysRevE.93.031101
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3000436