On the spin-up and spin-down of a rotating fluid. Part 2. Measurements and stability

Abstract

Measurements of the azimuthal velocity inside a cylinder which spins up or spins down at constant acceleration were obtained with a laser-Doppler velocimeter and compared with the theoretical results presented in part 1. Velocity profiles near the wave front in spin-up indicate that the velocity discontinuity given by the inviscid Wedemeyer model is smoothed out in a shear layer whose thickness varies with radius and time but scales with hE1/4Ω. The spin-down profiles are always in excellent agreement with theory when the flow is stable. Visualization studies with aluminium tracers have made possible the determination of the stability boundary for Ekman spiral waves (principally type II waves) observed on the cylinder end walls during spin-up. For spin-down to rest the flow always experienced a centrifugal instability which ultimately disrupted the interior fluid motion.