CATALOG DATA:
Introduction of the major fundamental ideas, methods and results of the theory of hydrodynamic stability. Examples of major applications are presented.

TEXTBOOK:
Drazin, P.G. and Reid, W.H., Hydrodynamic Stability, Cambridge Press.

GOALS:
This course is intended to provide the student with the foundations of hydrodynamic stability. It is concerned with when and how laminar flows break down, their subsequent development and their eventual transition to turbulence.

Topics:

• Introduction and formulation of the stability problem.
• Parallel shear flows: Inviscid theory, viscous theory, stability characteristics of various base flows, experimental results.
• Uniform asymptotic approximations: Couette flow, general velocity profiles, the inner and outer expansion, the Eigenvalue problem - uniform and Heuristic approximations.
• Numerical treatment of the Orr-Sommerfeld equation.
• Additional topics in linear stability theory: Rayleigh Taylor instability, Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, the Gūrtler problem, instability of unsteady flows.
• Nonlinear stability theory.

ABET category content as estimated by faculty member who prepared the course description:
Engineering Science: 3 credits or 100%
Engineering Design: 0 credits

Prepared by: Professor Albin Szewczyk
Last Update: March 27, 1992

 

Direct comments, questions, and corrections to amedept@nd.edu