The dynamics of a laminar flow in a symmetric channel with a sudden expansion (Q2731227)

The title flow is studied by applying the linear stability and bifurcation analysis combined with numerical finite difference method. The flow is incompressible, two-dimensional and laminar, and the sudden expansion of a symmetric channel has right angles. The mathematical description of the problem is based on non-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations expressed in terms of stream-function and vorticity using the well-known Batchelor formulation. For these functions, the authors formulate a boundary value problem which is solved numerically. The bifurcation and stability analyses are performed for flow states around a critical Reynolds number \(Re_c\) which separates a symmetric state when \(Re< Re_c\) from the asymmetric one when \(Re> Re_c\). The results obtained are compared with other results available in the literature.