Instability of channel flows of elastic liquids having continuously stratified properties (Q1303203)

This paper investigates inertialness channel flow of elastic liquids having continuously stratified constitutive properties. We find that an Oldroyd-B fluid having a sufficiently rapid normal stress variation shows instability. The mechanism is the same as for the two-fluid co-extrusion instability that arises when elasticity varies discontinuously. We find, using numerical and asymptotic methods, that this mechanism is opposed by convective effects, so that as the scale over which the elastic properties vary is increased, the growth rate is reduced, and finally disappears. A physical explanation for the stabilization is given.