Eur. Phys. J. E (2013) 36: 20
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2013-13020-5

Regular Article

Velocity field of the spiral vortex flow in the Couette-Taylor system

Laboratoire Ondes et Milieux Complexes, UMR 6294, CNRS-Université du Havre, 53, rue de Prony, CS 80540, F-76058, Le Havre Cedex, France

^* e-mail: mutabazi@univ-lehavre.fr

Received: 26 April 2012
Revised: 26 October 2012
Accepted: 6 February 2013
Published online: 7 March 2013

Abstract

Spiral vortex flow in the counter-rotating Couette-Taylor system with a large aspect ratio and an intermediate gap has been investigated using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). From data of velocity components, we have determined nonlinear properties (anharmonicity, mirror symmetry, axial and radial flow rates) of spiral vortices and compared them to those of Taylor vortices. The velocity field around a spatio-temporal defect has been measured. There is a good agreement between these experimental results with available results from numerical simulations.