Richard J.A.M. Stevens

Physics of Fluids · University of Twente

Publication 22 · Wall-bounded and rotating shear turbulence

Optimal Taylor-Couette flow

R. Ostilla-Mónico, R.J.A.M. Stevens, S. Grossmann, R. Verzicco, D. Lohse, J. Fluid Mech. 719, 14-46 (2013).

Main finding

For pure inner-cylinder rotation, Nu_omega - 1 changes from an effective exponent near 0.34 below Ta ≈ 2–3 × 10^6 to about 0.21 above it, while Re_w retains square-root scaling. Increasing driving weakens the dominance of coherent Taylor vortices; rolls remain present but contribute a smaller fraction of total transport.

Angular velocity transport and wind Reynolds number against Taylor number with fitted exponents
How to read the figure. Transport of angular velocity and the wind Reynolds number against the Taylor number for pure inner-cylinder rotation, with the fitted power laws printed on the panels. The effective exponent of the transport changes from about 0.34 below Ta = 2-3 x 10^6 to about 0.21 above it, while the wind Reynolds number keeps its square-root scaling throughout. Coherent Taylor rolls survive at higher driving but carry a smaller share of the total transport. Open the full-resolution figure. Figure 8. R. Ostilla-Mónico et al. (2013). No separate licence is stated here; consult the original publication and credited source before reuse.

Why this matters

Counter-rotation can tune torque by reorganizing the neutral surface, Taylor rolls, bulk mixing, and angular-velocity profile.

Research context

The study establishes a transport–structure framework for later Taylor–Couette work on roughness, mean profiles, spiral turbulence, and particles. Counter-rotation changes the neutral surface and roll organization, which in turn changes bulk mixing, profile flatness, and torque.

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