Combined effects of the velocity and the aspect ratios on the bifurcation phenomena in a two-sided lid-driven cavity flow

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the effect of aspect ratio A and aspect velocity ratio a on the bifurcation occurrence phenomena in lid-driven cavity by using finite volume method (FVM) and multigrid acceleration. This study has been performed for certain pertinent parameters; a wide range of the Reynolds number values has been adopted, and aspect ratios ranging from 0.25 to 1 and various velocity ratios from 0.25 to 0.825 have been considered in this investigation. Results show that the transition to the unsteady regime follows the classical scheme of Hopf bifurcation, giving rise to a perfectly periodic state. Flow periodicity has been verified through time history plots for the velocity component and phase-space trajectories as a function of Reynolds number. Velocity profile for special case of a square cavity (A = 1) was found to be in good agreement between current numerical results and published ones. Flow characteristics inside the cavity have been presented and discussed in terms of streamlines and vorticity contours at a fixed Reynolds number (Re = 5,000) for various aspect ratios (a = 0). Design/methodology/approach The numerical method is based on the FVM and multigrid acceleration. Findings Computations have been investigated for several Reynolds numbers and aspect ratios A (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 0.825 and 1). Besides, various velocity ratios (a = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 0.825) at fixed aspect ratios (A = 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75) were considered. It is observed that the transition to the unsteady regime follows the classical scheme of Hopf bifurcation, giving rise to a perfectly periodic state. Flow periodicity is verified through time history plots for velocity components and phase-space trajectories. Originality/value The bifurcations between steady and unsteady states are investigated.