Numerical Investigation of Nonlinear Wave Interaction in a Two-Dimensional Boundary Layer.

Abstract

A spectral method is used to solve for the unsteady, two-dimensional flow over a flat plate in the Reynolds number range of transition. The physical problem considered is the propagation of large amplitude (nonlinear) Tollmien-Schlichting waves in a boundary layer. The solutions are generally in qualitative agreement with nonlinear stability theories in that: (1) nonlinear effects can be destabilizing, (2) the growth/decay behavior of the primary mode is changed only slightly by nonlinear effects, and (3) the second temporal harmonic is usually a second spatial harmonic. There are, however, regions in the flow in which both (1) and (3) are not true. Details of the solution in such a region are given to illustrate the complex nonlinear wave interactions possible in a boundary layer. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 27, 1977
Accession Number
ADA042969

Entities

People

  • John W. Murdock
  • Thomas D. Taylor

Organizations

  • The Aerospace Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundaries
  • Boundary Layer
  • Boundary Layer Flow
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computational Science
  • Contracts
  • Couette Flow
  • Electrical Solitons
  • Engineering
  • Equations
  • Flow
  • Layers
  • Reynolds Number
  • Secondary Waves
  • Two Dimensional
  • Wave Phenomena
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.
  • Operations Research