Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vvkck Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T07:14:57.801Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

On the stability of laminar boundary-layer flow over a flat plate with a compliant surface

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 April 2006

P. K. Sen
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mechanics, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi 110016, India
D. S. Arora
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mechanics, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi 110016, India

Abstract

The problem has been examined using a kinematic model for wall pliability, wherein a kinematic postulation of the wall boundary conditions is made. A form of the normalized wall-displacement and its phase are used as additional parameters in an extended eigenvalue problem. Using this technique the entire gamut of possibilities regarding stability of flow past (normally) pliable walls can be examined, yet without recourse to any specific material properties for the wall. Rather, the results based on the kinematic model can be used to back-calculate the material properties corresponding to any chosen model for the dynamics of the wall. A sample back calculation is discussed herein for the Benjamin–Landahl wall model, and based on this some predictions are made regarding both stabilization of the flow and physical realizability of modes. It is believed that the kinematic model will prove useful in further understanding of the problem, and in the design of stabilizing coatings.

The results show that there are three important ‘mode classes’ (distinct from ‘modes’), namely the Tollmien–Schlichting (TS), resonant (R) and Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH). Whereas the TS and R mode classes broadly agree with modes bearing similar names as found by earlier workers, the present KH mode class is difficult to classify based on earlier work. Moreover, there are also important transitional mode classes in the regions of bifurcations of the regular mode classes.

Two important concepts evolve in connection with the TS and R mode classes, namely the existence of ‘stable pockets’ for the former and ‘unstable pockets’ for the latter. It is also confirmed herein that there are conflicting requirements on the damping d to stabilize TS and R modes. Considering these points it has been suggested that TS and R modes be avoided by keeping soft surfaces as compliant coatings. However, this in turn leads to instabilities from one of the transitional mode classes. It is also seen that a soft surface that is also marginally active (i.e. having a small negative value of d) could render even better stabilization.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1988 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

Babenko, V. V. & Kozlov, L. F.1973 Experimental investigation of hydrodynamic stability on rigid and elastic damping surfaces [in Russian]. Ivz. Akad. Nauk. SSSR, Mekh. Zhid. i Gaza no. 1, 122127.Google Scholar
Benjamin, T. B. 1959 Shearing flow over a wavy boundary. J. Fluid Mech. 6, 161205.Google Scholar
Benjamin, T. B.1960 Effects of a flexible boundary on hydrodynamic stability J. Fluid Mech. 9, 513532.Google Scholar
Benjamin, T. B.1963 The three fold classification of unstable disturbances in flexible surfaces bounding inviscid flows. J. Fluid Mech. 16, 436450.Google Scholar
Carpenter, P. W. & Garrad, A. D.1985 The hydrodynamic stability of flow over Kramer-type compliant surfaces. Part 1. Tollmien—Schlichting instabilities. J. Fluid Mech. 155, 465510.Google Scholar
Carpenter, P. W. & Garrad, A. D.1986 The hydrodynamic stability of flow over Kramer-type compliant surfaces. Part 2. Flow-induced surface instabilities. J. Fluid Mech. 170, 199232.Google Scholar
Hains, F. D.1965 Preliminary results on boundary-layer stability on a flexible plate. AIAA J. 3, 775.Google Scholar
Korotkin, A. I.1965 The stability of a laminar boundary layer on an elastic surface in an incompressible fluid (in Russian). Izv. Akad. Nauk. SSSR, Mekh. Zhid. i Gaza no. 3, 3844.Google Scholar
Kramer, M. O.1957 Boundary-layer stabilization by distributed damping. J. Aero. Sci. 24, 459.Google Scholar
Kramer, M. O.1960a Boundary-layer stabilization by distributed damping. J. Am. Soc. Naval Engrs 72, 2533.Google Scholar
Kramer, M. O.1960 The dolphin's secret. New Scientist 7, 11181130.Google Scholar
Kramer, M. O.1965 Hydrodynamics of the dolphin. Adv. Hydrosci. 2, 111130.Google Scholar
Landahl, M. T.1962 On the stability of a laminar incompressible boundary layer over a flexible surface. J. Fluid Mech. 13, 609632.Google Scholar
Landahl, M. T. & Kaplan, R. E.1965 Effect of compliant walls on boundary layer stability and transition. AGARDograph 97–1–353.Google Scholar
Metcalfe, R. W., Rutland, C. J., Duncan, J. H. & Riley, J. J. 1986 Numerical simulations of active stabilization of laminar boundary layers. AIAA J. 24, 14941501.Google Scholar
Schlichting, H.1968 Boundary Layer Theory, 6th edn. McGraw-Hill.
Thomas, L. H.1953 The stability of plane-Poiseuille flow. Phys. Rev. 91, 780784.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Sen and Arora supplementary material

Supplementary Material

Download Sen and Arora supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 1.2 MB