Stability and bifurcation of Navier-Stokes equations in an annular domain with mixed boundary conditions

Abstract

We study the existence and stability of non-trivial steady-state solutions to the two-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in an annular domain $\Omega =B(0,b)\setminus \overline{B(0,a)}$ with radii $b>a>0$.The outer boundary $\partial B(0,b)$ is subject to the free condition, while the inner boundary $\partial B(0,a)$ obeys a Navier-slip condition with effective slip length $\alpha >0$. Our main results are fourfold. First, we establish global-in-time strong solutions and derive a sharp energy estimate that underpins the subsequent nonlinear instability analysis. Second, for $\alpha >0$, we compute an explicit critical viscosity ${\mu }_c:={\mu }_c(\alpha ,a,b,\mu )$ that separates qualitatively different dynamical behaviours. Third, we precisely characterize the stability properties of the trivial solution in three distinct regimes. The zero solution is globally asymptotically stable in $H^2$ if $\mu >{\mu }_c$. If $\mu ={\mu }_c$, we prove an alternative theorem that completely describes the local dynamics near the trivial state. If $\mu <{\mu }_c$, the trivial solution is nonlinearly unstable in every $L^p(p\ge 1)$.Finally, we demonstrate that for $\mu <{\mu }_c$, the system undergoes a pitchfork bifurcation that generates an infinite family of non-trivial steady states. For generic choices of $(\alpha ,b)$, this bifurcation is supercritical; a measurable subset of parameter space yields subcritical transitions. Notably, all bifurcating solutions share the same topological pattern-a single row of counter-rotating vortices-despite their mathematical non-uniqueness.