Spatio–temporal instability in mixed convection boundary layers (Q4489286)

The authors analyze the stability of mixed convection flow over an isothermal semi-infinite vertical flat plate placed at zero incidence to an otherwise uniform stream, when the plate is heated or cooled. The authors' interest is partly to solve the mixed convection problem with different numerical methods for obtaining the basic flow, and to build up a more complete overall picture of the flow stability. In particular, the authors study the convective and absolute nature of instabilities as this has a strong influence on the transition to turbulence. Consequently, the authors use a spatio-temporal analysis with coordinate transformations that describes in a smooth way the evolution between forced convection and free convection flow regimes. The stability of this flow has been investigated by making the parallel flow approximation, and by applying an accurate spectral method to the resulting stability equations. The inviscid limit of the absolute instability is investigated by solving the corresponding Rayleigh equation. The authors find that a spatial stability analysis is adequate for the entire mixed convection regime with assisting external flow. However, when the buoyancy forces act in the same direction as the external flow (opposing flow), all the instabilities are convective. The flow is found here to be absolutely unstable beyond a certain threshold of reverse flow. The value of Reynolds number at which absolute instabiity first appears increases with diminishing reverse flow, and an inviscid analysis shows that the absolute instability has an inviscid origin.