Instability and Receptivity of Laminar Wall Jets

Results of eigenvalue analysis based on global and local eigenvalue considerations are presented. A collocation method with the Chebyshev polynomial approximation has been used for the global eigenvalue analysis. The results explain the appearance of a second unstable mode. In the case of real frequencies with Reynolds number R < 381 there is only one unstable mode. This mode coalesces at R≈ 381 with a stable mode. At R > 381 they become separated by interchannging their branches, then the second unstable mode occurs. The receptivity problem has been considered with respect to perturbations emanating from a wall. The results illustrate that high-frequency modes have a stronger response than low-frequency modes. It is shown that the method of expansion in a biorthogonal eigenfunction system and the method used by Ashpis and Reshotko are equivalent with regard to the receptivity problem solution. Received: 29 March 1996 and accepted 26 November 1996