The hydrodynamic stability of a one-dimensional transient buoyancy- induced flow (Q1207084)

Recent experiments have shown that a transient, buoyant, laminar and one- dimensional flow adjacent to a vertical flat surface may become vigorous enough to begin a transition process from laminar to turbulent flow. The disturbance amplification characteristics of such a flow are analyzed using linear stability theory. The Orr-Sommerfeld equations for stream function and temperature disturbances are formulated for an imposed constant and uniform base surface heat flux. The temporal amplification of the disturbance components is found as a function of their frequency. The results are plotted on a stability plane which shows that the selective amplification found in steady, downstream-developing buoyancy driven flows also occurs in transients.