The flow induced by the torsional oscillations of an elliptic cylinder

Abstract

We consider the fluid motion induced when an elliptic cylinder performs small-amplitude torsional oscillations about an axis parallel to a generator which passes through either the centre or a point on the major or minor axis of the ellipse. In common with other fluid flows dominated by oscillatory motion, a time-independent, or steady streaming flow develops. This steady streaming exhibits several unusual and unexpected features, which are confirmed by experiment.