Axisymmetric Taylor-Couette Swirl Flow CFD Simulation | FEATool Multiphysics

Taylor-Couette swirling flow simulation with the FEATool Multiphysics () simulation toolbox. In this fluid dynamics simulation for the axisymmetric Navier-Stokes equations including swirl effects, the rotational velocity is being continuously increased causing tangential Taylor vortices to appear after a certain point. The flow is still laminar but exhibits length wise vortices. As the velocity is increased further they destabilize and start to travel in the axial direction. The video below show this behavior, in particular observe around t= 10 s when the stable Taylor vortices appear (at about a Taylor number of 1500-1700 which is in good agreement with theory), and t =20 s when they start moving length wise. More details, multiphysics simulation toolbox, presented simulation model example, are all free to download from the FEATool homepage and #Axisymmetry #Swirl #TaylorCouette