Structures and regimes of shear flow in a plane cavity with translating boundaries

Stability of shear flow in a plane cavity whose boundaries translate in opposite directions is analyzed by solving the nonstationary Navier-Stokes equations numerically. It is shown that, depending on the Reynolds number and the cavity aspect ratioH/R, there may exist either a single-vortex, or a multi-eddy, or an intermediate flow regime with a bridge, all of which are stable. No oscillatory regime was found forH/L=0.1–10 and Re=1–3000.Nizhnii Novgorod, Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 2, pp. 53–56, March–April, 1995.