Textured surfaces are known for their ability to alter the physical response of the wall to the flow. This video explores the effect of 2D, streamwise grooves with different cross-sectional profiles (convex, V-groove, and concave) on the transition between Couette Flow and the Taylor vortex regime in a wide-gap Taylor-Couette cell as the rotation rate (i.e. Reynolds number) of the texture-covered inner cylinder is incrementally increased. The vortical patterns are visualized with fluorescent dye (Rhodamine 6G) illuminated by a continuous wave green laser (532 nm). With the smooth rotor, transition to the final 6-vortex state occurs quite early, while the rest of the rotors delay the transition sequentially to larger Reynolds numbers; convex rotor experiences the transition next, afterwards the V-groove, and finally the concave textures.
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