scholarly journals Non-modal stability analysis of the boundary layer under solitary waves

2017 ◽  
Vol 836 ◽  
pp. 740-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joris C. G. Verschaeve ◽  
Geir K. Pedersen ◽  
Cameron Tropea

In the present work, a stability analysis of the bottom boundary layer under solitary waves based on energy bounds and non-modal theory is performed. The instability mechanism of this flow consists of a competition between streamwise streaks and two-dimensional perturbations. For lower Reynolds numbers and early times, streamwise streaks display larger amplification due to their quadratic dependence on the Reynolds number, whereas two-dimensional perturbations become dominant for larger Reynolds numbers and later times in the deceleration region of this flow, as the maximum amplification of two-dimensional perturbations grows exponentially with the Reynolds number. By means of the present findings, we can give some indications on the physical mechanism and on the interpretation of the results by direct numerical simulation in Vittori & Blondeaux (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 615, 2008, pp. 433–443) and Özdemir et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 731, 2013, pp. 545–578) and by experiments in Sumer et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 646, 2010, pp. 207–231). In addition, three critical Reynolds numbers can be defined for which the stability properties of the flow change. In particular, it is shown that this boundary layer changes from a monotonically stable to a non-monotonically stable flow at a Reynolds number of $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}}=18$.

2014 ◽  
Vol 761 ◽  
pp. 62-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joris C. G. Verschaeve ◽  
Geir K. Pedersen

AbstractIn the present treatise, the stability of the boundary layer under solitary waves is analysed by means of the parabolized stability equation. We investigate both surface solitary waves and internal solitary waves. The main result is that the stability of the flow is not of parametric nature as has been assumed in the literature so far. Not only does linear stability analysis highlight this misunderstanding, it also gives an explanation why Sumer et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 646, 2010, pp. 207–231), Vittori & Blondeaux (Coastal Engng, vol. 58, 2011, pp. 206–213) and Ozdemir et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 731, 2013, pp. 545–578) each obtained different critical Reynolds numbers in their experiments and simulations. We find that linear instability is possible in the acceleration region of the flow, leading to the question of how this relates to the observation of transition in the acceleration region in the experiments by Sumer et al. or to the conjecture of a nonlinear instability mechanism in this region by Ozdemir et al. The key concept for assessment of instabilities is the integrated amplification which has not been employed for this kind of flow before. In addition, the present analysis is not based on a uniformization of the flow but instead uses a fully nonlinear description including non-parallel effects, weakly or fully. This allows for an analysis of the sensitivity with respect to these effects. Thanks to this thorough analysis, quantitative agreement between model results and direct numerical simulation has been obtained for the problem in question. The use of a high-order accurate Navier–Stokes solver is primordial in order to obtain agreement for the accumulated amplifications of the Tollmien–Schlichting waves as revealed in this analysis. An elaborate discussion on the effects of amplitudes and water depths on the stability of the flow is presented.


2017 ◽  
Vol 822 ◽  
pp. 813-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azan M. Sapardi ◽  
Wisam K. Hussam ◽  
Alban Pothérat ◽  
Gregory J. Sheard

This study seeks to characterise the breakdown of the steady two-dimensional solution in the flow around a 180-degree sharp bend to infinitesimal three-dimensional disturbances using a linear stability analysis. The stability analysis predicts that three-dimensional transition is via a synchronous instability of the steady flows. A highly accurate global linear stability analysis of the flow was conducted with Reynolds number $\mathit{Re}<1150$ and bend opening ratio (ratio of bend width to inlet height) $0.2\leqslant \unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}\leqslant 5$. This range of $\mathit{Re}$ and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ captures both steady-state two-dimensional flow solutions and the inception of unsteady two-dimensional flow. For $0.2\leqslant \unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}\leqslant 1$, the two-dimensional base flow transitions from steady to unsteady at higher Reynolds number as $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ increases. The stability analysis shows that at the onset of instability, the base flow becomes three-dimensionally unstable in two different modes, namely a spanwise oscillating mode for $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}=0.2$ and a spanwise synchronous mode for $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}\geqslant 0.3$. The critical Reynolds number and the spanwise wavelength of perturbations increase as $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ increases. For $1<\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}\leqslant 2$ both the critical Reynolds number for onset of unsteadiness and the spanwise wavelength decrease as $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ increases. Finally, for $2<\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}\leqslant 5$, the critical Reynolds number and spanwise wavelength remain almost constant. The linear stability analysis also shows that the base flow becomes unstable to different three-dimensional modes depending on the opening ratio. The modes are found to be localised near the reattachment point of the first recirculation bubble.


1968 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed R. Wazzan ◽  
T. Okamura ◽  
A. M. O. Smith

The theory of two-dimensional instability of laminar flow of water over solid surfaces is extended to include the effects of heat transfer. The equation that governs the stability of these flows to Tollmien-Schlichting disturbances is the Orr-Sommerfeld equation “modified” to include the effect of viscosity variation with temperature. Numerical solutions to this equation at high Reynolds numbers are obtained using a new method of integration. The method makes use of the Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization technique to obtain linearly independent solutions upon numerically integrating the “modified Orr-Sommerfeld” equation using single precision arithmetic. The method leads to satisfactory answers for Reynolds numbers as high as Rδ* = 100,000. The analysis is applied to the case of flow over both heated and cooled flat plates. The results indicate that heating and cooling of the wall have a large influence on the stability of boundary-layer flow in water. At a free-stream temperature of 60 deg F and wall temperatures of 60, 90, 120, 135, 150, 200, and 300deg F, the critical Reynolds numbers Rδ* are 520, 7200, 15200, 15600, 14800, 10250, and 4600, respectively. At a free-stream temperature of 200F and wall temperature of 60 deg F (cooled case), the critical Reynolds number is 151. Therefore, it is evident that a heated wall has a stabilizing effect, whereas a cooled wall has a destabilizing effect. These stability calculations show that heating increases the critical Reynolds number to a maximum value (Rδ* max = 15,700 at a temperature of TW = 130 deg F) but that further heating decreases the critical Reynolds number. In order to determine the influence of the viscosity derivatives upon the results, the critical Reynolds number for the heated case of T∞ = 40 and TW = 130 deg F was determined using (a) the Orr-Sommerfeld equation and (b) the present governing equation. The resulting critical Reynolds numbers are Rδ* = 140,000 and 16,200, respectively. Therefore, it is concluded that the terms pertaining to the first and second derivatives of the viscosity have a considerable destabilizing influence.


1978 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Davey

The linear stability of Poiseuille flow in an elliptic pipe which is nearly circular is examined by regarding the flow as a perturbation of Poiseuille flow in a circular pipe. We show that the temporal damping rates of non-axisymmetric infinitesimal disturbances which are concentrated near the wall of the pipe are decreased by the ellipticity. In particular we estimate that if the length of the minor axis of the cross-section of the pipe is less than about 96 ½% of that of the major axis then the flow will be unstable and a critical Reynolds number will exist. Also we calculate estimates of the ellipticities which will produce critical Reynolds numbers ranging from 1000 upwards.


2012 ◽  
Vol 705 ◽  
pp. 371-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramesh B. Kudenatti ◽  
N. M. Bujurke ◽  
T. J. Pedley

AbstractWe study the linear stability of two-dimensional high-Reynolds-number flow in a rigid parallel-sided channel, of which part of one wall has been replaced by a flexible membrane under longitudinal tension ${T}^{\ensuremath{\ast} } $. Far upstream the flow is parallel Poiseuille flow at Reynolds number $\mathit{Re}$; the width of the channel is $a$ and the length of the membrane is $\lambda a$, where $1\ll {\mathit{Re}}^{1/ 7} \lesssim \lambda \ll \mathit{Re}$. Steady flow was studied using interactive boundary-layer theory by Guneratne & Pedley (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 569, 2006, pp. 151–184) for various values of the pressure difference ${P}_{e} $ across the membrane at its upstream end. Here unsteady interactive boundary-layer theory is used to investigate the stability of the trivial steady solution for ${P}_{e} = 0$. An unexpected finding is that the flow is always unstable, with a growth rate that increases with ${T}^{\ensuremath{\ast} } $. In other words, the stability problem is ill-posed. However, when the pressure difference is held fixed (${= }0$) at the downstream end of the membrane, or a little further downstream, the problem is well-posed and all solutions are stable. The physical mechanisms underlying these findings are explored using a simple inviscid model; the crucial factor in the fluid dynamics is the vorticity gradient across the incoming Poiseuille flow.


2010 ◽  
Vol 668 ◽  
pp. 304-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. B. L. BOPPANA ◽  
J. S. B. GAJJAR

The effect of blockage on the onset of instability in the two-dimensional uniform flow past a cascade of cylinders is investigated. The same techniques as those described in Gajjar & Azzam (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 520, 2004, p. 51) are used to tackle the generalized eigenvalue problem arising from a global stability analysis of the linearized disturbance equations. Results have been obtained for the various mode classes, and our results show that for the odd–even modes, which correspond to anti-phase oscillatory motion about the midplane between the cylinders and are the modes most extensively studied in the literature, the effect of blockage has a marginal influence on the critical Reynolds numbers for instability. This is in sharp contrast to results cited in many studies with a fully developed inlet flow past a cylinder placed between confining walls. We are also able to find other unstable modes and in particular for low blockage ratios, the odd–odd modes which correspond to the in-phase oscillatory motion about the midplane between the cylinders are the first to become unstable as compared with the odd–even modes, and with much lower frequencies.


1964 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Sato ◽  
Fujihiko Sakao

An experimental investigation was made of the stability of a two-dimensional jet at low Reynolds numbers with extremely small residual disturbances both in and around the jet. The velocity distribution of a laminar jet is in agreement with Bickley's theoretical result. The stability and transition of a laminar jet are characterized by the Reynolds number based on the slit width and the maximum velocity of the jet. When the Reynolds number is less than 10, the whole jet is laminar. When the Reynolds number is between 10 and around 50, periodic velocity fluctuations are found in the jet. They die out as they travel downstream without developing into irregular fluctuations. When the Reynolds number exceeds about 50, periodic fluctuations develop into irregular, turbulent fluctuations. The frequency of the periodic fluctuation is roughly proportional to the square of the jet velocity.The stability of the jet against an artificially imposed disturbance was also investigated. Sound was used as an artificial disturbance. The disturbance is either amplified or damped in the jet depending on its frequency. The conventional stability theory was modified by considering the streamwise increase of Reynolds number. The experimental results are in agreement with the theoretical results.


The stability of fluid contained between concentric rotating cylinders has been investigated and it has been shown that, when only the inner cylinder rotates, the flow becomes unstable when a certain Reynolds number of the flow is exceeded. When the outer cylinder only is rotated, the flow is stable so far as disturbances of the type produced in the former case are concerned, but provided the Reynolds number of the flow exceeds a certain value, turbulence sets in. The object of the present experiments was partly to measure the torque reaction between two cylinders in the two cases in order to find the effect of centrifugal force on the turbulence, and partly to find the critical Reynolds numbers for the transition from stream-line to turbulent flow. The apparatus is shown diagrammatically in fig. 1.


1960 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Tatsumi ◽  
K. Gotoh

Hydrodynamic stability of free boundary-layer flows is treated in general. It is found that the situations at low Reynolds numbers are universal for all velocity profiles of free boundary-layer type. Curves of constant amplification are calculated as far as O(R3). In particular, the asymptotic form of the neutral curves for R [eDot ] 0 is found to be α = R/(4√3), so that the critical Reynolds numbers of these flows are identically zero. The phase velocity of the disturbance is also found to be zero, for all disturbances, up to the second approximation.A method of normalizing the velocity profiles is suggested, and existing results for the stability of various profiles at large Reynolds numbers are discussed from a new point of view.


1978 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. R. Wilson ◽  
I. Gladwell

Experiments have shown that the two-dimensional flow near a forward stagnation line may be unstable to three-dimensional disturbances. The growing disturbance takes the form of secondary vortices, i.e. vortices more or less parallel to the original streamlines. The instability is usually confined to the boundary layer and the spacing of the secondary vortices is of the order of the boundary-layer thickness. This situation is analysed theoretically for the case of infinitesimal disturbances of the type first studied by Görtler and Hämmerlin. These are disturbances periodic in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the flow, in the limit of infinite Reynolds number. It is shown that the flow is always stable to these disturbances.


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