Transitions and instabilities of flow in a symmetric channel with a suddenly expanded and contracted part

Abstract

Transitions and instabilities of two-dimensional flow in a symmetric channel with a suddenly expanded and contracted part are investigated numerically by three different methods, i.e. the time marching method for dynamical equations, the SOR iterative method and the finite-element method for steady-state equations. Linear and weakly nonlinear stability theories are applied to the flow. The transitions are confirmed experimentally by flow visualizations. It is known that the flow is steady and symmetric at low Reynolds numbers, becomes asymmetric at a critical Reynolds number, regains the symmetry at another critical Reynolds number and becomes oscillatory at very large Reynolds numbers. Multiple stable steady-state solutions are found in some cases, which lead to a hysteresis. The critical conditions for the existence of the multiple stable steady-state solutions are determined numerically and compared with the results of the linear and weakly nonlinear stability analyses. An exchange of modes for oscillatory instabilities is found to occur in the flow as the aspect ratio, the ratio of the length of the expanded part to its width, is varied, and its relation with the impinging free-shear-layer instability (IFLSI) is discussed.