• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2001.06e
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• pp.33-38
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• 2001

Bifurcation of unstable symmetric flow patterns to stable asymmetric ones in laminar sudden-expansion flow has been numerically investigated. Computations were carried out for an expansion ratio of 3 and over a range of the flow Reynolds numbers by using numerical methods of second-order time accuracy and a fractional-step method that guarantees divergence-free flowfields at all times. The critical Reynolds number above which bifurcation of pitchfork type to asymmetric flow pattern takes place is lower in a flow with a higher expansion ratio, in agreement with the previously reported results. The bifurcation diagrams show that the bifurcation takes place at a Reynolds number, $Re_c = 86.3$, higher than the value that has been reported. The lower critical Reynolds number may be due to deficiencies in their computations which employed SIMPLE-type relaxation methods rather than the initial-value approach of the present study. Characteristics of the flow development during the transition to asymmetric stable flow have been investigated by using spectral analysis of the velocity signals obtained by the simulations.