On stability of Taylor vortices by fifth-order amplitude expansions

Abstract

Davey, Di Prima & Stuart's (1968) double amplitude expansion for disturbances in flow between concentric cylinders is formulated in matrix notation. The stability of the secondary equilibrium (Taylor-vortex) flow is calculated using fifth-order terms in amplitude, and using the full equations rather than the small-gap approximation. Qualitative confirmation is found of instabilities to the Taylor-vortex flow to non-a.xisymmetric disturbances at about 10 % above the first critical Taylor number.