Consider solutions 〈H(x, ε), G(x, ε)〉 of the von Kármán equations for the swirling flow between two rotating coaxial disks
![](//static.cambridge.org/content/id/urn%3Acambridge.org%3Aid%3Aarticle%3AS0308210500015523/resource/name/S0308210500015523_eqnU1.gif?pub-status=live)
and
![](//static.cambridge.org/content/id/urn%3Acambridge.org%3Aid%3Aarticle%3AS0308210500015523/resource/name/S0308210500015523_eqnU2.gif?pub-status=live)
We assume that |H(x, ε)| + |Hʹ(x, ε)| + |G(x, ε)|≦B. This work considers shapes and asymptotic behaviour as ε→0+. We consider the type of limit functions 〈H(x), G(x)〉 that are permissible. In particular, if 〈H(x, ε), G(x, ε)〉 also satisfy the boundary conditions H(0, ε)=H(1, ε)=0, Hʹ(0, ε)=Hʹ(1, ε)=0 then H(x) has no simple zeros. That is, there does not exist a point Z ε [0, 1] such that H(x)=0, Hʹ(z)≠0. Moreover, the case of “cells” which oscillate is studied in detail.