On the initial-value problem in a rotating circular cylinder

Abstract

The initial-value problem in rapidly rotating circular cylinders is revisited. Four different but related analyses are carried out: (i) we derive a modified asymptotic expression for the viscous decay factors valid for the inertial modes of a broad range of frequencies that are required for an asymptotic solution of the initial value problem at an arbitrarily small but fixed Ekman number; (ii) we perform a fully numerical analysis to estimate the viscous decay factors, showing satisfactory quantitative agreement between the modified asymptotic expression and the fuller numerics; (iii) we derive a modified time-dependent asymptotic solution of the initial value problem valid for an arbitrarily small but fixed Ekman number and (iv) we perform fully numerical simulations for the initial value problem at a small Ekman number, showing satisfactory quantitative agreement between the modified time-dependent solution and the numerical simulations.