Taylor-Couette Flow: A Versatile Platform for Fluid Dynamics Experiments

Taylor-Couette flow is the flow of a viscous fluid sheared in the gap between two rotating coaxial cylinders. Sometimes called the "hydrogen atom of hydrodynamics," it has a rich phenomenology and has long been a testbed for new ideas in fluid mechanics and an important tool in the development of nonlinear dynamics. We present examples of laboratory activities that can be conducted using inexpensive equipment to introduce students to fluid mechanics topics not typically covered in the physics curriculum. By using flow visualization to measure the velocity profile in the gap, to demonstrate Reynolds similarity, and to examine the transition to turbulence, students not only gain insight into fluid behavior but also develop practical skills in scientific image acquisition and digital image/signal processing.