Taylor-Görtler Vortices in the Flow Driven by a Rotating Magnetic Field in a Cylindrical Container

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Fraňa, K. | Stiller, J. | Grundmann, R.

Affiliations: Institute for Aerospace Engineering, TU Dresden, D-01062 Dresden, Germany. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Taylor-Görtler vortices play an important role in the flow driven by rotating magnetic field in a closed cylindrical container. The visualization of these structures is essential to understand their physics and their impact on the dynamics of the flow. We present a study of various methods for identifying vortex cores, including the so-called λ_2 and Q criteria. While λ_2 is, probably, the better indicator it is more sensitive to numerical noise and thus less effective in devising 3D vortex structures. Here, the Q criterion proved particularly useful when applied to the fluctuation velocity field.

Keywords: Taylor-Görtler vortices, Visualization, Identification, Rotating flow

Journal: Journal of Visualization, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 323-330, 2005