Previous numerical simulations have shown that vortex breakdown starts with the formation of a steady axisymmetric bubble and that an unsteady spiralling mode then develops on top of this. We investigate this spiral mode with a linear global stability analysis around the steady bubble and its wake. We obtain the linear direct and adjoint global modes of the linearized Navier–Stokes equations and overlap these to obtain the structural sensitivity of the spiral mode, which identifies the wavemaker region. We also identify regions of absolute instability with a local stability analysis. At moderate swirls, we find that the $m= - 1$ azimuthal mode is the most unstable and that the wavemaker regions of the $m= - 1$ mode lie around the bubble, which is absolutely unstable. The mode is most sensitive to feedback involving the radial and azimuthal components of momentum in the region just upstream of the bubble. To a lesser extent, the mode is also sensitive to feedback involving the axial component of momentum in regions of high shear around the bubble. At an intermediate swirl, in which the bubble and wake have similar absolute growth rates, other researchers have found that the wavemaker of the nonlinear global mode lies in the wake. We agree with their analysis but find that the regions around the bubble are more influential than the wake in determining the growth rate and frequency of the linear global mode. The results from this paper provide the first steps towards passive control strategies for spiral vortex breakdown.

The relationship between numerical finite-amplitude equilibrium solutions of the full Navier–Stokes equations and nonlinear solutions arising from a high-Reynolds-number asymptotic analysis is discussed for a Tollmien–Schlichting wave-type two-dimensional vortical flow structure. The specific flow chosen for this purpose is that which arises from the mutual axial sliding of co-axial cylinders for which nonlinear axisymmetric travelling-wave solutions have been discovered recently by Deguchi & Nagata (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 678, 2011, pp. 156–178). We continue this solution branch to a Reynolds number $R= 1{0}^{8} $ and confirm that the behaviour of its so-called lower branch solutions, which typically produce a smaller modification to the laminar state than the other solution branches, quantitatively agrees with the axisymmetric asymptotic theory developed in this paper. We further find that this asymptotic structure breaks down when the disturbance wavelength is comparable with $R$. The new structure which replaces it is investigated and the governing equations are derived and solved. The flow visualization of the resultant solutions reveals that they possess a streamwise localized structure, with the trend agreeing qualitatively with full Navier–Stokes solutions for relatively long-wavelength disturbances.

The explicit exact analytic solution for harmonic perturbations from a line mass source in an incompressible inviscid two-dimensional linear shear is derived using a Fourier transform method. The two cases of an infinite shear flow and a semi-infinite shear flow over an impedance boundary are considered. For the free-field and hard-wall configurations, the pressure field is (in general) logarithmically diverging and its Fourier representation involves a diverging integral that is interpreted as an integral of generalized functions; this divergent behaviour is not present for a finite impedance boundary or if the frequency equals the mean flow shear rate. The dominant feature of the solution is the hydrodynamic wake caused by the shed vorticity of the source. For linear shear over an impedance boundary, in addition to the wake, (at most) two surface modes along the wall are excited. The implications for duct acoustics with flow over an impedance wall are discussed.

The hydrodynamic stability of plane Poiseuille flow of superfluid is studied using modal and non-modal analysis. Two modes of instability are predicted, in normal mode stability analysis of the normal fluid, one caused by viscosity similar to the classical mode and another due to mutual friction between superfluid and normal fluid. The mutual friction mode occurs at high wavenumbers, which are stable wavenumbers in classical plane Poiseuille flow. A high superfluid vortex line density alone is not enough to induce instability in normal fluid; a localization of vortex lines is shown to play a major role. The extent of vortex line concentration required to cause instability depends on the density itself. Non-modal instability analysis shows that oblique waves are stronger than streamwise waves, unlike the scenario in classical plane Poiseuille flow.