Experimental results and three-dimensional simulations of instabilities in a rotating lid-driven cylinder

Abstract

An experimental setup for a rotating lid-driven cylinder problem is designed and constructed in the context of modeling bulk semiconductor crystal growth techniques. Details concerning construction of the experimental setup are included in the interest of reproducibility. Ultrasonic Doppler Velocimetry (UDV) is tested as a viable visualization technique for the lid-driven cylinder and experimental measurements of the flow field are compared to numerical simulations. The aspect ratio of the cylinder and the Reynolds number are the governing parameters for the problem. Experimental and computation results are presented for aspect ratio of 2.5 and Reynolds numbers up to 3000. Accurate UDV measurements of the steady, axisymmetric base flow are demonstrated for both water and a 20% glycerin-water mixture as the working fluid. The expected periodic, axisymmetric instability at Reynolds number of 3000 was unobserved by the UDV. However, related instabilities were observed at lower Reynolds numbers. Associated strengths and weaknesses of UDV for flow measurement are discussed.