Stability of a thin layer of a second-grade fluid on a rotating disk (Q1196447)

An analysis is made of the linear stability of a thin film of a second- grade fluid formed on a disk rotating uniformly about an axis normal to the plane of the disk. The characteristic Ekman number \(E\) based on the film thickness is assumed large so that the basic velocity distribution depends only on the co-ordiante normal to the disk. The disturbances are assumed in the form of spiral waves at some distance away from the central region of the film where smooth flow occurs.