The Nonlinear Critical-Wall Layer in a Parallel Shear Flow

The nonlinear critical layer theory is developed for the case where the critical point is close enough to a solid boundary so that the critical layer and viscous wall layers merge. It is found that the flow structure differs considerably from the symmetric “eat's eye” pattern obtained by Benney and Bergeron [1] and Haberman [2]. One of the new features is that higher harmonics generated by the critical layer are in some cases induced in the outer flow at the same order as the basic disturbance. As a consequence, the lowest-order critical layer problem must be solved numerically. In the inviscid limit, on the other hand, a closed-form solution is obtained. It has continuous vorticity and is compared with the solutions found by Bergeron [3], which contain discontinuities in vorticity across closed streamlines.     

On the Effects of Nonparallelism,Three-Dimensionality,and Mode Interaction in Nonlinear Boundary-Layer Stability

A self-consistent theoretical investigation is described for the nonlinear stability, and spatial development, of disturbances in a plane boundary layer subject to a number of three-dimensional modes, their nonlinear interactions, and the effects of nonparallelism of the basic flow. For the largest weakly nonlinear disturbances considered, nonparallel-flow effects appear to be negligible at first sight, and primary, secondary, and/or tertiary bifurcations, usually supercritical but not always so, can occur when two fundamental modes are present. As a result the flow downstream then always has three ultimate possibilities: a unique stable disturbed state, two or more possible stable states, or no stable state possible. It is here that the nonparallel-flow effects exert their crucial influence. For nonparallelism comes into play significantly during the initial growth or decay of a disturbance, and that initial spatial development, from given initial conditions upstream, controls what happens subsequently as the disturbance increases. Thus in the first possibility above, the stable state is achieved through a smooth bifurcation, due to nonparallelism; in the second possibility the nonparallelism decides which stable state is attained (smoothly) from the initial conditions; and in the third possibility the nonparallel flow effects force the disturbance to terminate in a singular fashion. This singularity then leads to a fully nonlinear effect, locally on the boundary-layer flow. More complicated interactions can arise if more than two three-dimensional modes are present. The novel effect of the nonparallelism has a connection with related Navier-Stokes calculations even at near-critical Reynolds numbers.     

Transition to turbulence, small disturbances, and sensitivity analysis II: The Navier-Stokes equations

Recent research has shown that small disturbances in the linearized Navier-Stokes equations cause large energy growth in solutions. Although many researchers believe that this interaction triggers transition to turbulence in flow systems, the role of the nonlinearity in this process has not been thoroughly investigated. This paper is the second of a two part work in which sensitivity analysis is used to study the effects of small disturbances on the transition process. In the first part, sensitivity analysis was used to predict the effects of a small disturbance on solutions of a motivating problem, a highly sensitive one-dimensional Burgers' equation. In this paper, we extend the analysis to study the effects of small disturbances on transition to turbulence in the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. We show that the change in a laminar flow with respect to small variations in the initial flow or small forcing acting on the system is large when the linearized operator is stable yet nonnormal. In this case, the solution of the disturbed problem can be very large (and potentially turbulent) even if the disturbances are extremely small. We also give bounds on the disturbed flow in terms of certain constants associated with the linearized operator.     

Wave–Mean-Flow Interactions in a Forced Rossby Wave Packet Critical Layer

This paper describes the nonlinear critical layer evolution of a zonally localized Rossby wave packet forced in mid-latitudes and propagating horizontally on a beta plane in a zonal shear flow. The wave packet has an amplitude that varies slowly in the zonal direction. Numerical solutions of the governing nonlinear equations show that the wave–mean-flow interactions differ from those that would result with a monochromatic forcing. With the localized forcing, the net absorption of the disturbance at the critical layer continues for large time, because there is an outward flux of momentum in the zonal direction. Further insight into the mechanism for this and other aspects of the evolution of the critical layer is obtained through an approximate asymptotic analysis which is valid for large time.     

Direct numerical simulation of transition and turbulence in compressible mixing layer

The three-dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes equations are approximated by a fifth order upwind compact and a sixth order symmetrical compact difference relations combined with three-stage Ronge-Kutta method. The computed results are presented for convective Mach numberMc = 0.8 andRe = 200 with initial data which have equal and opposite oblique waves. From the computed results we can see the variation of coherent structures with time integration and full process of instability, formation of A -vortices, double horseshoe vortices and mushroom structures. The large structures break into small and smaller vortex structures. Finally, the movement of small structure becomes dominant, and flow field turns into turbulence. It is noted that production of small vortex structures is combined with turning of symmetrical structures to unsymmetrical ones. It is shown in the present computation that the flow field turns into turbulence directly from initial instability and there is not vortex pairing in process of transition. It means that for large convective Mach number the transition mechanism for compressible mixing layer differs from that in incompressible mixing layer.     

Influence of Finite Amplitude Disturbances on the Nonstationary Modes of a Compressible Boundary Layer Flow

A weakly nonlinear stability analysis is performed to search for the effects of compressibility on a mode of instability of the three-dimensional boundary layer flow due to a rotating disk. The motivation is to extend the stationary work of [ 1 ] (hereafter referred to as S90) to incorporate into the nonstationary mode so that it will be investigated whether the finite amplitude destabilization of the boundary layer is owing to this mode or the mode of S90. Therefore, the basic compressible flow obtained in the large Reynolds number limit is perturbed by disturbances that are nonlinear and also time dependent. In this connection, the effects of nonlinearity are explored allowing the finite amplitude growth of a disturbance close to the neutral location and thus, a finite amplitude equation governing the evolution of the nonlinear lower branch modes is obtained. The coefficients of this evolution equation clearly demonstrate that the nonlinearity is destabilizing for all the modes, the effect of which is higher for the nonstationary waves as compared to the stationary waves. Some modes particularly having positive frequency, regardless of the adiabatic or wall heating/cooling conditions, are always found to be unstable, which are apparently more important than those stationary modes determined in S90. The solution of the asymptotic amplitude equation reveals that compressibility as the local Mach number increases, has the influence of stabilization by requiring smaller initial amplitude of the disturbance for the laminar rotating disk boundary layer flow to become unstable. Apart from the already unstable positive frequency waves, perturbations with positive frequency are always seen to compete to lead the solution to unstable state before the negative frequency waves do. Also, cooling the surface of the disk will be apparently ineffective to suppress the instability mechanisms operating in this boundary layer flow.     

A numerical investigation of the nonlinear wave stability of vertical thermal boundary layer flow in a porous medium

A two-dimensional, nonlinear, time-dependent, elliptic, numerical method coupled with an appropriate coordinate transformation is used to investigate the stability of free convection induced by an isothermally heated semi-infinite surface embedded in a fluid-saturated porous medium. It is found that the basic boundary layer flow is stable even to large amplitude disturbance for nondimensional distances of up to 1024 from the leading edge of the heated surface.     

The compressible Gortler problem in two-dimensional boundary layers

In this paper the authors investigate the growth rates of Görtlervortices in a compressible flow in the inviscid limit of largeGörtler number. Numerical solutions are obtained for O(1)wavenumbers. The further limits of (i) large Mach number and(ii) large wavenumber with O(1) Mach number are considered.It is shown that two different types of disturbance mode canappear in this problem. The first is a wall layer mode, so namedas it has its eigenfunctions trapped in a thin layer near thewall. The other mode investigated is confined to a thin layeraway from the wall and termed a trapped-layer mode for largewavenumbers and an adjustment-layer mode for large Mach numbers,since then this mode has its eigenfunctions concentrated inthe temperature adjustment layer. It is possible to investigatethe near crossing of the modes which occurs in each of the limitsmentioned. The inviscid limit does not predict a fastest growingmode, but does enable a most dangerous mode to be identifiedfor O(1) Mach number. For hypersonic flow the most dangerousmode depends on the size of the Görtler number.     

超音速平板边界层转捩中层流突变为湍流的机理研究

采用空间模式,对来流Mach数为4.5的平板边界层转捩过程做了直接数值模拟．对结果进行的分析发现,在层流-湍流转捩的突变(breakdown)过程中,层流剖面得以快速转变为湍流剖面的机理在于平均剖面的修正导致了其稳定性特征的显著变化．虽然在层流下第2模态T-S波更不稳定,但在层流突变为湍流的过程中,第1模态不稳定波也起了重要作用．     

Damping of sound and vibration by flow nonlinearity in the apertures of a perforated elastic screen

An analysis is made of the influence of flow nonlinearity inthe apertures of a perforated elastic plate on the damping ofsound and flexural vibrations. Fluid is forced through the perforationsby the pressure differential established across the plate bythe incident disturbance. The Reynolds number is assumed tobe sufficiently large that separation occurs, and the reciprocatingaperture flows form ‘jets’ on alternate sides ofthe plate. The growth of these jets is modelled by means ofa nonlinear equation proposed by Cummings (1986). This equationis solved simultaneously with a generalized bending wave equationderived by the author (Howe, 1995a) which governs motions ofa perforated elastic plate whose lengths scales are large comparedto the aperture spacing. It is shown that significant attenuationsof large amplitude acoustic waves can occur except when thefrequency is so small that the plate is acoustically transparent.Bending waves are also damped provided the amplitude of theplate surface velocity is not too large and the frequency issmall enough to ensure the formation of substantial jets inthe apertures. Numerical results are given for large amplitudesound waves incident on a perforated screen in air, and forbending waves propagating over aluminium and steel screens immersedin either air or water.     

Parabolic flow over a flat plate with wave disturbance in the main stream

In this paper the effects of unsteady flow past a flat plate, which is at rest, are studied when the steady parabolic flow outside the boundary layer is in a wave disturbance. Solutions are developed for large and small times. The behaviour of the amplitudes and phase leads of skin friction components along chordwise and spanwise directions are studied in detail. Two cases, one when the main stream lines are straight and yawed, and the other when the main stream lines are parabolic and concave with respect to the points on the chordwise direction are studied separately and the results are interpreted graphically.     

Three-dimensional Tollmien-Schlichting waves generated by sound in the boundary layer on an elastic surface at transonic free-stream velocities

Within the framework of the triple-deck theory, the effect of surface elasticity on three-dimensional packets of Tollmien-Schlichting waves generated by acoustic disturbances induced near the boundary layer at transonic free-stream velocities is investigated. It is shown that the elasticity of the surface considerably weakens the most unstable oblique waves but does not change the characteristic horseshoe shape of wave packets with two disturbance peaks propagating at an angle to the incoming flow.     

The boundary layer transition at supersonic velocities

The transition to turbulent flow in a boundary layer at supersonic velocities, the study of which was started at the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR on the initiative of V. V. Struminskii is considered. It is shown that complex investigations into this problem, including the stability of the laminar boundary layer and structure of the perturbations in the operational part of a wind tunnel at supersonic velocities, enable the mechanism of the boundary layer transition on a flat plate to be established and demonstrate the decisive effect of the spectral composition of the external flow perturbations and the blunting of the leading edge of the model that enables one to determine the role of the unit Reynolds number.     

Nonlinear stability characteristics of the pressure-gradient driven flow between walls in a rotating system under the influence of the Coriolis force

The paper addresses the question of the disturbance propagation when the plane channel flow on a rotating system is under the influence of the Coriolis force. The problem is approached through the method of Stewartson and Stuart (1971) to handle bifurcation characteristics. It starts from solving the linear (eigenvalue) problem and extends the same to handle growing distubances in the vicinity of the neutral surface. Solution for the problem addressed over the range of flow parameters characterised by the dominant physical mechanism affecting transition, viz. the Tollmien-Schlichting mechanism or the Coriolis force mechanism, will be presented.. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

小攻角高超声速钝锥边界层中不同扰动对转捩的影响

为了研究上游不同扰动对转捩位置的影响,针对来流Ma=6,攻角1°,半锥角5°的钝锥边界层的转捩进行了数值模拟．首先研究了边界层中小扰动的演化,与流动稳定性理论进行了对比,结果表明:在所考虑的流场中,流动稳定性线性理论可以对扰动的增长率做出一个较好的预测．在此基础上,研究了不同扰动对转捩位置的影响．计算给出了在两种不同频率分布的扰动情况下,转捩位置沿周向的分布．结果表明,转捩位置沿周向分布与入口扰动的幅值和频率有关．某子午面的转捩位置由该处的最不稳定波在入口的幅值决定．根据大多数风洞中背景扰动的特性,解释了小攻角圆锥转捩实验中背风面先转捩,迎风面后转捩的现象．同时,还解释了在背风面附近转捩位置“凹陷”的现象．     

Nonlinear mathematical analysis for blood flow in a constricted artery under periodic body acceleration

This study analyses the pulsatile flow of blood through mild stenosed narrow arteries, treating the blood in the core region as a Casson fluid and the plasma in the peripheral layer as a Newtonian fluid. Perturbation method is employed to solve the resulting coupled implicit system of non-linear partial differential equations. The expressions for shear stress, velocity, wall shear stress, plug core radius, flow rate and longitudinal impedance to flow are obtained. The effects of pulsatility, stenosis depth, peripheral layer thickness, body acceleration and non-Newtonian behavior of blood on these flow quantities are discussed. It is noted that the plug core radius, wall shear stress and longitudinal impedance to flow increase as the yield stress and stenosis depth increase and they decrease with the increase of the body acceleration, pressure gradient, width of the peripheral layer thickness. It is observed that the plug flow velocity and flow rate increase with the increase of the pulsatile Reynolds number, body acceleration, pressure gradient and the width of the peripheral layer thickness and the reverse behavior is found when the yield stress, stenosis depth and lead angle increase. It is also recorded that the wall shear stress and longitudinal impedance to flow are considerably lower for the two-fluid Casson model than that of the single-fluid Casson model. It is found that the presence of body acceleration and peripheral layer influences the mean flow rate and mean velocity by increasing their magnitude significantly in the arteries.     

Control of the transition between regular and mach reflection of shock waves

A control problem was considered that makes it possible to switch the flow between stationary Mach and regular reflection of shock waves within the dual solution domain. The sensitivity of the flow was computed by solving adjoint equations. A control disturbance was sought by applying gradient optimization methods. According to the computational results, the transition from regular to Mach reflection can be executed by raising the temperature. The transition from Mach to regular reflection can be achieved by lowering the temperature at moderate Mach numbers and is impossible at large numbers. The reliability of the numerical results was confirmed by verifying them with the help of a posteriori analysis.