Stability of two-layer stratified flow down an inclined plane

Kao, Timothy W. (1964) Stability of two-layer stratified flow down an inclined plane. Technical Report. California Institute of Technology.

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Abstract

The stability of flow down an inclined plank has been investigated for the case of a stratified fluid system consisting of two layers of viscous fluid of different densities. This problem is an extension of the works of Benjamin and Yih for a homogeneous fluid; thus their results are a special case of the solution for this more general problem. Asymptotic cases for long and short wave-length disturbances are considered, and the neutral stability curve is estimated. Reynolds numbers for the bifurcation point of the neutral curve are found for various ratios of density and depth of the two layers. For long waves, shear wave instability is also studied and is found to be damped. It is found that the addition of another film of fluid of lighter density over the original film destabilizes the original free surface disturbances. It is hoped that this work will bear on problems of film flow stabilizing techniques, and will also be of interest in the study of the stability of undercurrents in reservoirs.

EPrint Type:	Monograph (Technical Report)
Subjects:	All Records
ID Code:	41
Deposited By:	George Porter
Deposited On:	14 June 2004
Record Number:	CaltechKHR:KH-R-8
Official Persistent URL:	http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechKHR:KH-R-8
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