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On the instability of boundary layers on heated flat platesThe stability of a boundary layer on a heated flat plate is investigated in the linear regime. The flow is shown to be unstable to longitudinal vortex structures which in general develop in a nonparallel manner in the streamwise direction. Solutions of the nonparallel equations are obtained numerically at O(1) values of the appropriate stability parameter, i.e., the Grashof number. The particular cases investigated relate to the situations when the instability is induced by localized or distributed wall roughness or nonuniform wall heating. The case when the vortices are induced by freestream disturbances is also considered. The fastest growing mode is found to be governed by a quasi-parallel theory at high wavenumbers. The wavenumber and growth rate of the fastest growing mode are found in closed form. At low wavenumbers the vortex instability is shown to be closely related to Tollmein-Schlichting waves. The effect of wall heating or cooling on the latter type of instability is discussed.
Document ID
19930037050
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hall, Philip
(Manchester Victoria Univ. United Kingdom)
Morris, Helen
(Exeter Univ. United Kingdom)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Fluid Mechanics
ISSN: 0022-1120
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Heat Transfer
Accession Number
93A21047
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS1-18605
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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