DISK-DRIVEN VORTICAL FLOW STRUCTURE IN A CUBICAL CONTAINER

Our aim in conducting the numerical simulation of laminar flow in a cu bical container is to explore into the flow structure subjected to a d isk rotation on the roof of the container. To this end, we have applie d the topology theory to analyze skin-friction lines or limiting strea mlines to elucidate the kinematically possible vortical how structure. For this study, four different Reynolds numbers in the range of Re = 500-2000 were considered, with emphasis on the case with Re = 1000. Re vealed from the analysis is that the secondary flow structure emerges as a result of a plane disk rotating motion. The two-cell counter-rota ting flow pattern in the plane perpendicular to the rotating disk is s patially varying due to the four corners present in the cubical contai ner, We have also depicted the vortical how structure in terms of vort ex cores which provide more details about how mixing of the flow can b e achieved through a simple plane disk rotation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.