The nonlinear evolution of secondary instabilities in boundary layers

Following the concepts of stability analysis, a study is made of the pre-breakdown stage of transition to turbulence in boundary layers. The first step consists of a ’decoupling’ of the primary and secondary instabilities. A perturbation method is used to solve for the primary wave, in the absence of any secondary disturbances. Once the wave is calculated, it is decomposed into a basic flow portion and an interaction portion. The basic flow portion acts as a parametric excitation for the secondary wave. The interaction portion then captures the resonance effects of the secondary back onto the primary. A perturbation method is also used for the secondary and interaction components. The results obtained are in three principal forms: Landau constants, amplitude growth curves, and velocity functions. While in good agreement with experiments and simulations, these results offer new explanations to the observed processes. In addition, a physically-based transition criteria is established.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Engineering Mechanics

Department dc:contributor.department

Engineering Mechanics

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1988

Author dc:creator

• Crouch, Jeffrey D.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Herbert, Thorwald

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Mook, Dean T.
• Hendricks, Scott L.
• Ragab, Saad A.
• Renardy, Michael

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/53684

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/53684