Global transition dynamics of flow in a lid-driven cubical cavity

The dynamics of a fully three-dimensional lid-driven cubical cavity (3D-LDC) flow at several postcritical conditions, i.e., beyond the first bifurcation, are elucidated using both linear and nonlinear analyses. When the Reynolds number is increased beyond the critical value, symmetry breaks down intermittently with subsequent gradual growth in spanwise inhomogeneity. This results in crossflow as well as pronounced secondary flow due to enhanced imbalance between centrifugal and pressure forces. Thus, while a stable solution is obtained at Re = 1900 (Reynolds number based on lid velocity and cavity side length), nonlinear analysis identifies intermittent and nearly saturated regimes at Re = 2100 and Re = 3000, respectively. These changes in the regime are examined by considering five basic states at different Reynolds numbers starting from Re = 1900. At the lowest Reynolds number, linear analysis yields only symmetric modes, characterized by Taylor–Görtler-like (TGL) vortices. However, at Re = 2100, the intermittent breakdown of symmetry results in the emergence of an antisymmetric low-frequency mode apart from primary high-frequency mode. The frequencies of both these modes are numerically close to those obtained from corresponding nonlinear simulations. When the Reynolds number is increased even further, the TGL structures drift under the influence of the crossflow to occupy the previously structureless region near the wall. The frequency of each mode decreases with increase in Re; between 1900 and 3000, the frequency of the primary mode changes by more than 20%. Furthermore, the spatial support of each mode becomes larger within the cavity. Both primary and secondary modes are increasingly destabilized with Re; however, the secondary antisymmetric mode is destabilized at a higher rate. The current study thus provides a comprehensive picture of the overall dynamics of 3D-LDC flows in pre- and post-bifurcation regimes in an extended Re range not considered hitherto