The classical rectangular lid-driven-cavity problem is considered in which the motion of an incompressible fluid is induced by a single lid moving tangentially to itself with constant velocity. In a system infinitely extended in the spanwise direction the flow is two-dimensional for small Reynolds numbers. By a linear stability analysis it is shown that this basic flow becomes unstable at higher Reynolds numbers to four different three-dimensional modes depending on the aspect ratio of the cavity’s cross section. For shallow cavities the most dangerous modes are a pair of three-dimensional short waves propagating spanwise in the direction perpendicular to the basic flow. The mode is localized on the strong basic-state eddy that is created at the downstream end of the moving lid when the Reynolds number is increased. In the limit of a vanishing layer depth the critical Reynolds number approaches a finite asymptotic value. When the depth of the cavity is comparable to its width, two different centrifugal-instability modes can appear depending on the exact value of the aspect ratio. One of these modes is stationary, the other one is oscillatory. For unit aspect ratio (square cavity), the critical mode is stationary and has a very short wavelength. Experiments for the square cavity with a large span confirm this instability. It is argued that this three-dimensional mode has not been observed in all previous experiments, because the instability is suppressed by side-wall effects in small-span cavities. For large aspect ratios, i.e., for deep cavities, the critical three-dimensional mode is stationary with a long wavelength. The critical Reynolds number approaches a finite asymptotic value in the limit of an infinitely deep cavity.

The primary instability of axisymmetric steady thermocapillary flow in a cylindrical liquid bridge with non-deformable free surface is calculated by a mixed Chebychev-finite difference method. For unit aspect ratio the most dangerous mode has an azimuthal wavenumber m=2. The physical instability mechanisms are studied by analyzing the linear energy balance of the neutral mode. If the Prandtl number is small (Pr≪1), the bifurcation is stationary. The associated neutral mode is amplified in the shear layer close to the free surface. For large Prandtl number (Pr=4), the basic state becomes linearly unstable to a pair of hydrothermal waves propagating nearly azimuthally. Both mechanisms are compared with those previously proposed in the literature.

Capillary-driven flow of a perfectly wetting liquid into circular cylindrical tubes is studied. Based on an analysis of previous approaches, a comprehensive theoretical model is presented which is not limited to certain special cases. This model considers the meniscus reorientation, the dynamic contact angle as well as inertia, convective, and viscous losses inside the tube and the reservoir. The capillary-driven flow is divided into three successive phases where first inertia then convective losses and finally viscous forces counteract the driving capillary force. This leads to an initial meniscus height increase proportional to the square of time followed by a linear dependence and finally the Lucas–Washburn behavior where the meniscus height is proportional to the square root of time. The three phases are separated by two characteristic transition times which are determined by the Ohnesorge number and the inertia of the liquid. Experiments were carried out under microgravity condition in a carefully chosen range of Ohnesorge numbers and initial liquid heights to cover the complete process from the initial meniscus development to the final Lucas–Washburn behavior. Good agreement of experimental and theoretical data is found throughout the complete range of experiment parameters. The existence of all three flow regimes predicted by the theory is verified by the experiments.

No abstract