Numerical calculations of two-cell and single-cell Taylor flows

Numerical solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations for steady axisymmetric flow in the Taylor experiment are presented. In the cases considered the annulus is so short that only one or two Taylor cells are present. The results are compared with a recent theoretical and experimental study by Benjamin & Mullin (1981). The qualitative picture of the flows possible proposed by Benjamin & Mullin is confirmed by the calculations, and the quantitative agreement with their experimental results is quite satisfactory.