Influence of global rotation and Reynolds number on the large-scale features of a turbulent Taylor-Couette flow

Abstract

We experimentally study the turbulent flow between two coaxial and independently rotating cylinders. We determined the scaling of the torque with Reynolds numbers at various angular velocity ratios (Rotation numbers) and the behavior of the wall shear stress when varying the Rotation number at high Reynolds numbers. We compare the curves with particle image velocimetry analysis of the mean flow and show the peculiar role of perfect counter-rotation for the emergence of organized large scale structures in the mean part of this very turbulent flow that appear in a smooth and continuous way: the transition resembles a supercritical bifurcation of the secondary mean flow. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.