Experimental observation of the steady - oscillatory transition in a cubic lid-driven cavity

TL;DR

This study experimentally observes the transition from steady to oscillatory flow in a cubic lid-driven cavity at Reynolds numbers lower than previously recorded, validating numerical predictions.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental validation of the steady-oscillatory transition in a cubic cavity at low Reynolds numbers, confirming numerical results.

Findings

Experimental critical Reynolds number matches numerical predictions.

Large amplitude oscillations overlay the base flow.

Oscillation frequency and spatial distribution agree with simulations.

Abstract

Particle image velocimetry is applied to the lid-driven flow in a cube to validate the numerical prediction of steady - oscillatory transition at lower than ever observed Reynolds number. Experimental results agree with the numerical simulation demonstrating large amplitude oscillatory motion overlaying the base quasi-two-dimensional flow in the mid-plane. A good agreement in the values of critical Reynolds number and frequency of the appearing oscillations, as well as similar spatial distributions of the oscillations amplitude are obtained.