Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-g4j75 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-09T17:44:33.637Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Experimental investigations of the stability of channel flows. Part 1. Flow of a single liquid in a rectangular channel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 March 2006

Timothy W. Kao  and
C. Park
Timothy W. Kao
Affiliation:
Department of Space Science and Applied Physics, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20017
C. Park
Affiliation:
Department of Space Science and Applied Physics, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20017
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The stability of the laminar flow in a rectangular channel with aspect ratio 1:8 was investigated experimentally, with and without artificial excitation. The critical Reynolds number based on the hydraulic diameter and the average velocity was found to be 2600. Behaviour of damped and growing waves, using artificial excitation, was examined in detail. In particular the progress of growing disturbances was followed. Breaking was found to be the ultimate fate of a growing wave. Spectra of growing and damped waves were also obtained. Measurements were made for wavelengths, wave speeds and amplification or damping rates. The neutral stability boundary in the αr, R plane was determined. In the damped region, comparison of several aspects of the behaviour of the measured disturbances with the plane Poiseuille theory for spatial decay yielded good agreement.

Three-dimensionality and non-linear subcritical instability were briefly examined. Neutral subcritical waves at low Reynolds numbers appeared possible when the exciter amplitude was quadrupled.

The possible bearings of the present study on the stability of plane Poiseuille flow are suggested.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 43 , Issue 1 , 17 August 1970 , pp. 145 - 164
Copyright
© 1970 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Charles, M. E. & Lilleleht, L. U. 1965 J. Fluid Mech. 22, 21.
Cornish, R. J. 1928 Proc. Roy. Soc. A 120, 691.
Davis, S. J. & White, C. M. 1928 Proc. Roy. Soc. A 119, 92.
Gill, A. E. 1965 J. Fluid Mech. 21, 14.
Kao, T. W. & Park, C. 1967 Tech. Rep. 67–032, Dept. of Space Science and Applied Physics, The Catholic Univ. of America.
Klebanoff, P. S. & Tidstrom, K. D. 1959 NASA Tech. Note no. D-195.
Klebanoff, P. S., Tidstrom, K. D. & Sargent, L. M. 1962 J. Fluid Mech. 12, 1.
Leite, R. J. 1959 J. Fluid Mech. 5, 8.
Lin, C. C. 1955 The Theory of Hydrodynamic Stability. Cambridge University Press.
Reynolds, W. C. & Potter, M. C. 1967 J. Fluid Mech. 27, 46.
Schiller, L. 1923 Z. angew Math. Mech. 3, 1.
Schubauer, G. B. & Skramstad, H. K. 1948 NACA Tech. Rep. no. 909.