Spiral vortices in boundary layer transition regime on a rotating disk

Behavior of spiral vortices on a disk rotating in still fluid is studied theoretically and experimentally in detail. A linear stability analysis, in which effects of streamline curvature and Coriolis force are considered, gives a critical Reynolds number at the onset of instability close to the one measured here by using a hot wire probe. Gradient of the vortex axis is determined under a condition of the maximum amplification. Flow patterns in the transition regime are experimentally visualized. The results show that the number of the spiral vortices is 31 or 32 as mean value and the gradient of the vortex axis decreases from 14° to 7° as the local Reynolds number is increased.