The structure of fully nonlinear taylor vortices

The structure of nonlinear short-wavelength Taylor vortices in the flow between rotating concentric cylinders is considered. In the short-wavelength limit, the nonlinear vortex motion is governed by a mean-flow-first-harmonic interaction problem. The initial structure of the nonlinear vortex state is shown to be governed by a multilayer structure in which the vortex is constrained to lie between the inner cylinder and a position internal to the flow regime. This position is dependent upon the Taylor number and it is found that there is a critical value of the Taylor number at which the vortex first impinges on the outer boundary. The vortex field then develops a double boundary layer structure at both the inner and outer boundary as the Taylor number is increased past this critical Taylor number.