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The instability of a stratified periodic boundary layer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 March 2006

Christian Von Kerczek  and
Stephen H. Davis
Christian Von Kerczek
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park Present address: David W. Taylor Naval Ship Research and Development Center, Bethesda, Maryland, 20084.
Stephen H. Davis
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics and Materials Science, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
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Abstract

A vertical plate oscillating vertically in a statically stably-stratified fluid induces an internal wave damped by viscous forces. A two-dimensional linear stability analysis of this time-dependent state shows that the wave is highly unstable when the buoyancy and forcing frequencies are comparable. This gravitational (buoyancy) instability is due to the presence of the background stratification. The neutral curve is calculated and the system energetics are explored. Excellent agreement is obtained with the recent experimental observations of Robinson & McEwan.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 75 , Issue 2 , 27 May 1976 , pp. 287 - 303
Copyright
© 1976 Cambridge University Press

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