Global instability of Stokes layer for whole wave numbers

The study on the global instability of a Stokes layer, which is a typical unsteady flow, is usually a paradigm for understanding the instability and transition of unsteady flows. Previous studies suggest that the neutral curve of the global instability obtained by the Floquet theory is only mapped out in a limited range of wave numbers （0.2 ≤ a ≤ 0.5）. In this paper, the global instability is investigated with numerical simulations for all wave numbers. It is revealed that the peak of the disturbances displays irregularity rather than the periodic evolution while the wave number is beyond the above range. A ＂neutral point＂ is redefined, and a neutral curve of the global instability is presented for the whole wave numbers with this new definition. This work provides a deeper understanding of the global instability of unsteady flows.

Effects of layer interactions on instantaneous stability of finite Stokes flows

The stability analysis of a finite Stokes layer is of practical importance in flow control. In the present work, the instantaneous stability of a finite Stokes layer with layer interactions is studied via a linear stability analysis of the frozen phases of the base flow. The oscillations of two plates can have different velocity amplitudes, initial phases, and frequencies. The effects of the Stokes-layer interactions on the stability when two plates oscillate synchronously are analyzed. The growth rates of two most unstable modes when δ < 0.12 are almost equal, and δ = δ*/h*, where δ*and h*are the Stokes-layer thickness and the half height of the channel, respectively. However, their vorticities are different. The vorticity of the most unstable mode is symmetric, while the other is asymmetric. The Stokes-layer interactions have a destabilizing effect on the most unstable mode when δ < 0.68, and have a stabilizing effect when δ > 0.68. However, the interactions always have a stabilizing effect on the other unstable mode. It is explained that one of the two unstable modes has much higher dissipation than the other one when the Stokes-layer interactions are strong. We also find that the stability of the Stokes layer is closely related to the inflectional points of the base-flow velocity profile. The effects of inconsistent velocity-amplitude, initial phase, and frequency of the oscillations on the stability are analyzed. The energy of the most unstable eigenvector is mainly distributed near the plate of higher velocity amplitude or higher oscillation frequency. The effects of the initial phase difference are complicated because the base-flow velocity is extremely sensitive to the initial phase.

ANALYSIS AND MEASUREMENT OF STOKES LAYER FLOWS IN AN OSCILLATING NARROW CHANNEL

The velocities of boundary layer flows between two parallel oscillating plates separated by small distance, i.e., in so called narrow channel, were theoretically and experimentally studied. The focus was on the laminar case where the Reynolds number ReA is much smaller than the transition value. The theoretical analysis of the Stokes layer in oscillating flow over a narrow channel was made first. Then Laser Doppler Velocimeter （LDV） was employed to measure the Stokes boundary layer above an oscillating flat plate and inside the oscillating narrow channel at various ReH numbers. At the same time, the phase angle difference along the vertical direction in both analysis and experiment were provided. The good agreements are shown between the measured results and the theoretical solution.