Chaotic mixing in a curved-rectangular channel flow is studied numerically. One wall of the channel (inner wall) rotate around the center of curvature and a pressure gradient is imposed in the direction toward the exit of the channel. This flow is a kind of Taylor-Dean flow. There are two parameters dominating the flow, the Dean number De (∝ the pressure gradient) and the Taylor number Tr (∝ the angular velocity of the wall rotation). In the present paper, we analyze the physical mechanism of chaotic mixing in the Taylor-Dean flow by comparing fluid mixing and velocity field. It is found that good mixing performance is obtained in the case of De/Tr ≤ 1/6. This tendency appears more strongly if aspect ratio is large.
