Laminar–turbulent transition in oscillating boundary layer: experimental and numerical analysis using continuous wavelet transform

The laminar–turbulent transition of a forced oscillating boundary layer with a varying pressure gradient is experimentally and numerically investigated for two Strouhal numbers. Time-dependent characterization of the natural instability modes is carried out using continuous wavelet analysis of velocity signals. The periodic evolution of the total growth rates of the most unstable disturbances are measured and compared to the results of the linear stability theory. The “Tollmien–Schlichting” (TS) and “convective” transition modes are identified. It is shown that they correspond to the extrema of opposite signs of the skewness factor of unstable wavelet transform of the most unstable frequencies.     

Nonlinear development of two-dimensional hydroelastic instability in a turbulent boundary layer on an elastic coating

Nonlinear evolution of hydroelastic instability arising in the flow past a coating of a rubber-type material by a turbulent boundary layer of an incompressible fluid is studied. A nonlinear dispersion equation for two-dimensional, quasi-monochromatic, low-amplitude waves is derived. The Prandtl equations for the mean (over the waviness period) boundary-layer flow are solved in the approximation of local similarity and by direct numerical integration. Evolution of unstable waves in time is studied on the basis of the Landau equation, which is derived separately for the instability of fast waves (flutter) and the quasi-static instability (divergence). The calculation results are compared with available experimental data. Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhnii Novgorod 603600. Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 41, No. 4, pp. 69–80, July–August, 2000.     

“Anomalous” nonlinear wave phenomena in a supersonic boundary layer

Nonlinear evolution of high-amplitude periodic disturbances in a boundary layer on a flat plate for Mach numberM=2 is studied. An anomalous downstream evolution of the disturbances is found, quasi-two-dimensional disturbances being most unstable. The obtained phase velocities of the waves are 30–40% greater than the phase velocities of the Tollmien-Schlichting waves. The nonlinear evolution of vortex waves is accompanied by an increase in steady disturbances from the source of controlled vibrations. High-frequency disturbances decay, and a periodic wave train degenerates downstream into a quasiharmonic wave train. Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090. Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 40, No. 5, pp. 91–98, September–October, 1999.     

Interaction of a tollmien-schlichting wave with a local flow inhomogeneity

The method of parabolic stability equations is used to study the laminar-turbulent transition in a boundary layer with a stationary velocity inhomogeneity concentrated in a narrow stream. The location of the transition is found as a function of the magnitude and sign of the velocity defect. It is shown that if the inhomogeneity amplitude is small, it affects only the final nonlinear stage of disturbance development. In this case, the location of the transition is independent of the sign of the velocity defect. Having a moderate amplitude, a lower-velocity inhomogeneity shifts the transition location significantly more strongly than a higher-velocity inhomogeneity of similar shape and amplitude. This is caused by amplification of unstable disturbances in the low-velocity region and, conversely, their attenuation in the high-velocity stream. The effect of disturbance amplification in the low-velocity region is shown not to be connected with inflection-type instability. Another explanation of this phenomenon is offered. Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute, Zhukovskii 140160. Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 75–83, January–February, 1998.     

Numerical simulation of receptivity of a hypersonic boundary layer to acoustic disturbances

Direct numerical simulations of the evolution of disturbances in a viscous shock layer on a flat plate are performed for a free-stream Mach number M _∞ = 21 and Reynolds number Re _L = 1.44 · 10⁵. Unsteady Navier-Stokes equations are solved by a high-order shock-capturing scheme. Processes of receptivity and instability development in a shock layer excited by external acoustic waves are considered. Direct numerical simulations are demonstrated to agree well with results obtained by the locally parallel linear stability theory (with allowance for the shock-wave effect) and with experimental measurements in a hypersonic wind tunnel. Mechanisms of conversion of external disturbances to instability waves in a hypersonic shock layer are discussed. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 48, No. 3, pp. 84–91, May–June, 2007.     

Experimental study and direct numerical simulation of the evolution of disturbances in a viscous shock layer on a flat plate

The evolution of disturbances in a hypersonic viscous shock layer on a flat plate excited by slow-mode acoustic waves is considered numerically and experimentally. The parameters measured in the experiments performed with a free-stream Mach number M _∞ = 21 and Reynolds number Re _L = 1.44 · 10⁵ are the transverse profiles of the mean density and Mach number, the spectra of density fluctuations, and growth rates of natural disturbances. Direct numerical simulation of propagation of disturbances is performed by solving the Navier-Stokes equations with a high-order shock-capturing scheme. The numerical and experimental data characterizing the mean flow field, intensity of density fluctuations, and their growth rates are found to be in good agreement. Possible mechanisms of disturbance generation and evolution in the shock layer at hypersonic velocities are discussed. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 47, No. 5, pp. 3–15, September–October, 2006.     

Nonparallel stability of the flow in an axially rotating pipe

The linear stability of the developing flow in an axially rotating pipe is analyzed using parabolized stability equations (PSE). The results are compared with those obtained from a near-parallel stability approximation that only takes into account the axial variation of the basic flow. Though the PSE results obviously coincide with the near-parallel ones far downstream, when the flow has reached a Hagen-Poiseuille axial velocity profile with superimposed solid-body rotation, they differ significantly in the developing region. Therefore, the onset of instability strongly depends on the axial evolution of the perturbations. The PSE results are also compared with experimental data from Imao et al. [Exp. Fluids 12 (1992) 277], showing a good agreement in the frequencies and wavelengths of the unstable disturbances, that take the form of spiral waves. Finally, a simple method for detecting one of the conditions to characterize the onset of absolute instability using PSE is given.     

Laminar co-rotating Batchelor vortex merging

The dynamics of laminar co-rotating vortex pairs without axial flow have been recently thoroughly studied through theoretical, experimental and numerical studies, which revealed different instabilities contributing to the decay of the vortices. In this paper, the objective is to extend the analysis to the case of co-rotating vortices with axial flow at low Reynolds numbers. A high-order incompressible Navier–Stokes flow solver is used. The momentum equations are spatially discretized on a staggered mesh by finite differences and all derivatives are evaluated with 10th order compact finite difference schemes with RK-4 temporal discretization. The initial condition is a linear superposition of two co-rotating circular Batchelor vortices with q = 1. It is found that there is an initial evolution that resembles the evolution that single q = 1 vortices go through. Azimuthal disturbances grow and result in the appearance of large-scale helical sheets of vorticity. With the development of these instability waves, the axial velocity deficit is weakened. The redistribution of both angular and axial momentum between the core and the surroundings drives the vortex core to a more stable configuration, with a higher q value. After these processes, the evolution is somewhat similar to a pair of co-rotating Lamb–Oseen vortices. A three-dimensional instability develops, with a large band of unstable modes, with the most amplified mode corresponding scaling with the vortex initial separation distance. P. J. S. A. Ferreira de Sousa wishes to acknowledge the support of FCT—SFRH/BD/1129/2000 and SFRH/BPD/21778/2005.     

Wave propagation in thermally conducting linear fibre-reinforced composite materials

The propagation of plane waves in a fibre-reinforced, anisotropic, generalized thermoelastic media is discussed. The governing equations in x–y plane are solved to obtain a cubic equation in phase velocity. Three coupled waves, namely quasi-P, quasi-SV and quasi-thermal waves are shown to exist. The propagation of Rayleigh waves in stress free thermally insulated and transversely isotropic fibre-reinforced thermoelastic solid half-space is also investigated. The frequency equation is obtained for these waves. The velocities of the plane waves are shown graphically with the angle of propagation. The numerical results are also compared to those without thermal disturbances and anisotropy parameters.     

Computational studies of inertia-gravity waves radiated from upper tropospheric jets

The generation and physical characteristics of inertia-gravity waves radiated from an unstable forced jet at the tropopause are investigated through high-resolution numerical simulations of the three-dimensional Navier–Stokes anelastic equations. Such waves are induced by Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities on the flanks of the inhomogeneously stratified jet. From the evolution of the averaged momentum flux above the jet, it is found that gravity waves are continuously radiated after the shear-stratified flow reaches a quasi-equilibrium state. The time–vertical coordinate cross-sections of potential temperature show phase patterns indicating upward energy propagation. The sign of the momentum flux above and below the jet further confirms this, indicating that the group velocity of the generated waves is pointing away from the jet core region. Space–time spectral analysis at the upper flank level of the jet shows a broad spectral band, with different phase speeds. The spectra obtained in the stratosphere above the jet show a shift toward lower frequencies and larger spatial scales compared to the spectra found in the jet region. The three-dimensional character of the generated waves is confirmed by analysis of the co-spectra of the spanwise and vertical velocities. Imposing the background rotation modifies the polarization relation between the horizontal wind components. This out-of-phase relation is evidenced by the hodograph of the horizontal wind vector, further confirming the upward energy propagation. The background rotation also causes the co-spectra of the waves high above the jet core to be asymmetric in the spanwise modes, with contributions from modes with negative wavenumbers dominating the co-spectra. Dedicated to the memory of our colleague Dr. Binson Joseph     

Velocity profiles and interface instability in a two-phase fluid: investigations using ultrasonic velocity profiler

In the present study the velocity profiles and the instability at the interface of a two phase water-oil fluid were investigated. The main aim of the research project was to investigate the instability mechanisms that can cause the failure of an oil spill barrier. Such mechanisms have been studied before for a vast variety of conditions (Wicks in Fluid dynamics of floating oil containment by mechanical barriers in the presence of water currents. In: Conference on prevention and control of oil spills, pp 55–106, 1969; Fannelop in Appl Ocean Res 5(2):80–92, 1983; Lee and Kang in Spill Sci Technol Bull 4(4):257–266, 1997; Fang and Johnston in J Waterway Port Coast Ocean Eng ASCE 127(4):234–239, 2001; among others). Although the velocity field in the region behind the barrier can influence the failure significantly, it had not been measured and analyzed precisely. In the present study the velocity profiles in the vicinity of different barriers were studied. To undertake the experiments, an oil layer was contained over the surface of flowing water by means of a barrier in a laboratory flume. The ultrasonic velocity profiler method was used to measure velocity profiles in each phase and to detect the oil–water interface. The effect of the barrier geometry on velocity profiles was studied. It was determined that the contained oil slick, although similar to a gravity current, can not be considered as a gravity current. The oil–water interface, derived from ultrasonic echo, was used to find the velocity profile in each fluid. Finally it was shown that the fluctuations at the rearward side of the oil slick head are due to Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities.     

Fine structure of a stratified flow near a flat-plate surface

The pattern of disturbances arising during the motion of a strip along a horizontal surface in a continuously stratified fluid with identified upstream and attached internal waves, boundary layers, and edge singularities is calculated in the liner approximation. The flow pattern behind a flat plate moving with a constant velocity in a continuously stratified fluid is studied with the use of the optical schlieren technique; transformation of waves and finely structured elements of the flow with increasing plate velocity is analyzed. The calculated and experimentally observed patterns of internal waves at low velocities are demonstrated to be in good agreement. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 48, No. 6, pp. 77–91, November–December, 2007.     

Linear instability characteristics of incompressible coaxial jets

The present study deals with the local linear instability of axisymmetric coaxial jets with a duct wall separating the two streams. The flow is assumed to be locally parallel, inviscid and incompressible. The objective of the work is to understand how the various parameters describing this flow geometry (i.e. boundary layers thicknesses at the exit, velocity ratio, wall thickness) may influence the instability of the flow and, in particular, the convective/absolute instability transition. A specific family of profiles is chosen for the modelling of the mean undisturbed flow and a spatial stability analysis is performed in order to identify the unstable modes and to assess how they are affected by the wake region behind the wall. An absolutely unstable mode is found, and its characteristics, depending on the velocity ratio and shear layers thicknesses, are determined. Results show that the absolute unstable mode is present only for a limited range of velocity ratios and that the corresponding frequency is almost constant if normalized with the mean velocity and wake thickness. This frequency value and the extension of the range of velocity ratios is similar to those found in the experiments on a similar geometry. Finally, a specific velocity ratio is found that maximizes the region at the jet exit for which an absolute instability behind the wall is present. This may increase the possibility for the onset of a global mode that may sustain the instability of the whole jet, enhancing considerably the mixing and entrainment characteristics between the two streams.     

Instabilities of a gas-liquid flow between two inclined plates analyzed using the Navier–Stokes equations

The paper is devoted to a theoretical analysis of a counter-current gas-liquid flow between two inclined plates. We linearized the Navier–Stokes equations and carried out a stability analysis of the basic steady-state solution over a wide variation of the liquid Reynolds number and the gas superficial velocity. As a result, we found two modes of the unstable disturbances and computed the wavelength and phase velocity of their neutral disturbances varying the liquid and gas Reynolds number. The first mode is a “surface mode” that corresponds to the Kapitza's waves at small values of the gas superficial velocity. We found that the dependence of the neutral disturbance wavelength on the liquid Reynolds number strongly depends on the gas superficial velocity, the distance between the plates and the channel inclination angle for this mode. The second mode of the unstable disturbances corresponds to the transition to a turbulent flow in the gas phase and there is a critical value of the gas Reynolds number for this mode. We obtained that this critical Reynolds number weakly depends on both the channel inclination angle, the distance between the plates and the liquid flow parameters for the conditions considered in the paper. Despite a thorough search, we did not find the unstable modes that may correspond to the instability in frame of the viscous (or inviscid) Kelvin–Helmholtz heuristic analysis.     

Investigations of time-growing instabilities in laminar separation bubbles

The occurrence of temporally growing unstable disturbances is investigated based on eigenvalues with zero group velocity from linear stability theory (LST) and compared with observations of upstream travelling disturbances obtained in a two-dimensional direct numerical simulation (DNS) of an unsteady laminar separation bubble. Numerical solutions of the Orr–Sommerfeld equation using analytically constructed base-flow velocity profiles modelled by a modified hyperbolic tangent function help to identify the role of parameters, such as maximum reverse flow, wall distance and intensity of the shear layer, as well as Reynolds number on the possibility that a true time-growing instability occurs. Then, the viscous or inviscid nature of the solutions found is classified on the basis of their eigenfunctions. For large wall distances two unstable modes are found. Apart from a low-frequency motion of the bubble the DNS exhibit high-frequency oscillations which periodically appear and disappear. Part of these disturbances travel upstream and amplify with respect to time. Their initial occurrence and their frequency are in excellent agreement with the results of the parameter study based on LST and a closer examination of the disturbances yields insight into their spatial structure.     

On the Secondary Instability of Three-Dimensional Boundary Layers

One of the possible transition scenarios in three-dimensional boundary layers, the saturation of stationary crossflow vortices and their secondary instability to high-frequency disturbances, is studied using the Parabolized Stability Equations (PSE) and Floquet theory. Starting from nonlinear PSE solutions, we investigate the region where a purely stationary crossflow disturbance saturates for its secondary instability characteristics utilizing global and local eigenvalue solvers that are based on the Implicitly Restarted Arnoldi Method and a Newton–Raphson technique, respectively. Results are presented for swept Hiemenz flow and the DLR swept flat plate experiment. The main focuses of this study are on the existence of multiple roots in the eigenvalue spectrum that could explain experimental observations of time-dependent occurrences of an explosive growth of traveling disturbances, on the origin of high-frequency disturbances, as well as on gaining more information about threshold amplitudes of primary disturbances necessary for the growth of secondary disturbances. Received 13 July 1998 and accepted 7 July 2000     

Stability of a compressible swirling flow in a circular pipe

The stability of an axisymmetric flow of viscous gas in a circular pipe, which models the Burgers vortex in the pipe axis neighborhood, is studied within the linear theory framework. Neutral curves for the most unstable disturbances are calculated. The influence of the characteristic Mach number on the flow stability is investigated. It is shown that for a given model velocity distribution the Mach number affects only the temperature and pressure profiles of the main undisturbed flow. In this case, for the disturbance types considered, as the Mach number increases, the critical Reynolds number corresponding to loss of stability decreases. Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 35–41, January–February, 1999. The work received financial support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project No. 96-01-00586).     

Active Control of Wave Instabilities in Three-Dimensional Compressible Flows

In many fluid flows of practical importance transition is caused by the linear growth of wave instabilities, such as Tollmien–Schlichting waves, which eventually grow to a finite size at which stage secondary instabilities come into play. If transition is to be delayed or even avoided in such flows, then the linear growth of the disturbances must be prevented since control in the nonlinear regime would be a considerably more difficult task. Here a strategy for active control of two-dimensional incompressible and compressible Tollmien–Schlichting waves and its use in controlling the more practically relevant problem of crossflow instability which arises in swept-wing flows is discussed. The control is through an active suction/blowing distribution at the wall though the same result could be achieved by variable wall heating. In order to control the instability it is assumed that the wall shear stress and pressure are known from measurements. It is shown that, certainly at finite Reynolds numbers, it is sufficient to know the flow properties at a finite number of points along the wall. The cases of high and finite Reynolds numbers are discussed using asymptotic and numerical methods respectively. It is shown that a control strategy can be developed to stop the growth of all two-dimensional Tollmien–Schlichting waves at finite and large Reynolds numbers. Some discussion of nonlinear effects in the presence of active control is given and the possible control of other instability mechanisms investigated. Received 1 May 1998 and accepted 24 September 1998     

On Stabilization of Multi-Layer Hele-Shaw and Porous Media Flows in the Presence of Gravity

Stabilization of multi-layer Hele-Shaw flows is studied here by including the influence of Rayleigh?CTaylor instability in our earlier work (Daripa, J. Stat. Mech. 12:28, 2008a) on stabilization of multi-layer Saffman?CTaylor instability. Furthermore, this article goes beyond our previous work with few extensions, improvements, new interpretations, and clarifications on the use of some terminologies. Results of two complete studies have been presented: the first investigates the effect of individually unstable interfaces on the overall stability of the flow, and the second studies the cumulative effect of unstable interfaces as well as unstable internal viscous layers. In each case, modal and absolute upper bounds on the growth rate are reported. Next, these bounds are used to investigate (i) stabilization of long waves on various interfaces; (ii) stabilization of all waves on all interfaces in comparison to pure Taylor instability; (iii) stabilization of disturbances on interior interfaces instead of exterior interfaces. In the first study, notions of partial and total stabilization with respect to the pure Taylor growth rate are introduced. Then necessary and sufficient conditions for partial and total stabilizations are found. Proof of stabilization of long waves on one of the two external interfaces in multi-layer flows is also proved. In the second study, an absolute upper bound is obtained in the presence of stabilizing density stratification across each internal interface even though all interfaces and layers have unstable viscous profiles. Exact results on the upper bounds, and necessary and sufficient conditions for control of instabilities driven by stable/unstable density stratification, unstable viscous layers and unstable interfaces are new and may be relevant to explain observed phenomena in many complex flows generating these kinds of viscous profiles and density stratification as they evolve. The present work builds upon and goes much further in details and new results than our previous work. The gravity effect included here brings with it restrictions which have not been addressed before in this multi-layer context.