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Experiments on the nonlinear stages of free-shear-layer transition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 March 2006

Richard W. Miksad
Richard W. Miksad
Affiliation:
Department of Meteorology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Present address: Division of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida.
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Abstract

An experimental study is made of the instability and transition of a laminar free shear layer by sound excitation. Primary emphasis is placed on the nonlinear stages of transition. Transition from laminar instability to turbulent breakdown covers approximately five wavelengths of downstream distance. The instability has six distinct regions of behaviour : a region of exponential growth described by linear theory; a nonlinear region where critical-layer effects are important, and harmonics and subharmonics are generated; a region of finite amplitude equilibration of the fundamental mode; a region of finite amplitude triggered sub-harmonic instabilities; a region of three-dimensional longitudinal vortex formation; and a final region of weak secondary instabilities and turbulent breakdown.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 56 , Issue 4 , 28 December 1972 , pp. 695 - 719
Copyright
© 1972 Cambridge University Press

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