Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar

Summer Research Fellowship Programme

Analysis of PSE for Perturbed Flows

By: Supervisor:
Nishant Kumar Dr. Vinod Narayanan
B.Tech IV Department of Mechanical
Mechanical Engineering Engineering
S.V. National Institute of Indian Institute of Technology,
Technology, Surat Gandhinagar

May-July, 2010
 Analysis of PSE for Perturbed Flows

Abstract
The parabolized stability equations (PSE) are a new approach to analyse the streamwise
evolution of single or interacting Fourier modes in weakly nonparallel flows such as boundary
layers. The concept rests on the decomposition of every mode into a slowly varying amplitude
function and a wave function with slowly varying wave number. The neglect of the small
second derivatives of the slowly varying functions with respect to the streamwise variable
leads to an initial boundary-value problem that is solved by numerical marching procedures.
The PSE approach is valid in convectively unstable flows. The PSE codes have developed
into a convenient tool to analyse basic mechanisms in boundary-layer flow. In this report, the
emphasis has been laid on the analysis of PSE concept in natural variables, along with the
underlying background and concepts. The implementation of the equations using FORTRAN
codes was done to analyse the solutions of the equations.

1 Background
The theoretical background required for understanding the concept of hydrodynamic stability and
analysis of fluid flows is presented here.

1.1 Navier Stokes Equations

The NSE, along with the continuity equation and well formulated boundary conditions, is used
to determine the flow field. The NSE is basically a statement of conservation of momentum. For
incompressible flow of Newtonian fluids, the NSE in vector form may be represented as
 
∂v
ρ + v. 5 v = − 5 p + µ 52 v (1)
∂t

The work deals basically with the axisymmetric flows and hence it is beneficial to represent
eqn. (1) in cylindrical coordinates systems in nondimensional form. A change in variables of the
cartesian form of the equation will yield the desired form in cylindrical coordinates r, θ, z

1 ∂2u ∂2u
   
∂u ∂u w ∂u ∂u ∂p 1 1 ∂ ∂u
+v + +u =− + r + 2 2 + 2 (2)
∂t ∂r r ∂θ ∂u ∂z Re r ∂r ∂r r ∂θ ∂z
∂v w2 1 ∂2v ∂2v
   
∂v ∂v w ∂v ∂p 1 1 ∂ ∂v v 2 ∂w
+v + +u − = + r + 2 2 + 2− 2− 2 (3)
∂t ∂r r ∂θ ∂z 2 ∂r Re r ∂r ∂r r ∂θ ∂z r r ∂θ
1 ∂2w ∂2w
   
∂w ∂w w ∂w ∂w v.w 1 ∂p 1 1 ∂ ∂w 2 ∂v w
+v + +u + =− + r + 2 2 + + −
∂t ∂r r ∂θ ∂z r r ∂θ Re r ∂r ∂r r ∂θ ∂z 2 r2 ∂θ r2
(4)

where u, v, w represent the velocity components in z, r, θ directions respectively. We have used the
following vector transformations for the derivations

dr̂ dθ̂
= θ̂ and = −r̂ (5)
dθ dθ

1.2 Orr Sommerfeld Equation (OSE)

Amplification of disturbances: The flow may consist of disturbances caused due to free stream
condition or surface roughness. Disturbances of a certain band of frequencies get damped by the
fluid viscosity and some frequencies get amplified, which may cause turbulence downstream of the
flow.

1
 Analysis of PSE for Perturbed Flows

The OSE is an eigenvalue equation describing the linear two-dimensional modes of disturbance
to a viscous parallel flow. The perturbed velocity field is

u = (U (z) + u0 (x, z, t), 0, w0 (x, z, t)) (6)

where perturbed velocity component is determined from

ψ(x, y, t) = φ(y)eiα(x−ct) (7)

In non-dimensional form, OSE can be obtained from the linearised version of NSE. The final form
of OSE can be represented as
1
(U − c)(φ00 − α2 φ) = − φ0000 − 2α2 φ00 + α4 φ


(8)
αRe
Solution of OSE : For the OSE to give non-trivial solution, we must have

f (α, c, Re) = 0 (9)

It is assumed that the disturbances are temporally growing. Thus, depending on the value of c,
the α − Re plane can be divided into following domains
• c < 0, flow is stable (i.e., disturbances decay),
• c = 0, flow is neutrally stable, and
• c > 0, flow is unstable (i.e., disturbances grow).

Squire’s Theorem: To each unstable three dimensional disturbance there corresponds a more
unstable two-dimensional one.

1.3 Boundary Layer Flow

Order of magnitude analysis: The inviscid solution gives u = U =constant everywhere, ∂p/∂x = 0
and the governing equations become

∂u ∂u 1 ∂2u
u +v = (10)
∂x ∂y Re ∂x2
∂u ∂v
+ =0 (11)
∂x ∂y
For similarity solution of the above equations, we consider
u
= f 0 (η) (12)
U
where
r
y U
η= =y (13)
δ(x) νx

Blasius profile: This equation is used to analyse flow over a flat plate at zero angle of attack. We
convert the NSE which is a PDE into an ODE which can be solved easily using numerical methods.
1
f 000 + f f 00 = 0, (14)
2
f (0) = f 0 (0) = 0, f (∞) = 1 (15)

where the dash represents differentiation with respect to η.

2
 Analysis of PSE for Perturbed Flows

Falkner-Skan equation: Here, we generalize the Blasius boundary layer by considering a wedge at
an angle of attack β from some uniform velocity field
 x m
ue (x) = U0 (16)
L
Thus,

f 000 + f f 00 + β 1 − f 02 = 0


(17)

where,
2m
β= (18)
m+1

2 Solution of Orr-Sommerfeld equation in cylindrical co-

ordinates
For axisymmetric flows, to investigate the stability of the basic flow, we study the evolutions of the
perturbations u, v and p requiring that the total flow parameters satisfy the equations of motion
and that they are constrained by the same flow-forcing boundary conditions as the basic flow.
Here, we consider the perturbed flow to be given as the combination of the unperturbed mean
flow V,P and the perturbations v,p

uz = ū = U + u, ur = v̄ = V + v, uθ = w̄ = W + w, p̄ = P + p (19)

where ¯ denotes the total flow parameter.

For the mean flow, we apply the following boundary conditions

W = 0 and U, V 6= f (θ)

The disturbances are also assumed to be parallel flows. Then the most general form for the 1-D
disturbance q is that of a travelling wave whose amplitude varies with r and which moves along
the boundary at an angle θ with respect to the z axis. In complex notation, the disturbances may
be represented as

q = q̂(r)exp[i(αx + nθ − βt)] (20)

All disturbances have wave number α and frequency β. They are referred to as Tollmein-Schlichting
waves which are indications of laminar-flow instability.

The basic flow satisfies the momentum equation. In vector form, the momentum equation may
be represented as
DV~
~ .∇)
+ (V ~ V~ = − 1 ∇P
~ + ν.∇ ~ 2V
~ (21)
Dt ρ
By suitable transformations, the N-S equations in non-dimensional form for the basic flow can
be written in the cylindrical coordinate system for r,θ,z directions.

r momentum:
 
∂V ~ .∇)V
~ 1 ∂P 1 ~ 2 V − V − 2 ∂W
+ (V − W2 = − + ∇ (22)
∂t r ∂r Re r2 r2 ∂θ

θ momentum:
 
∂W ~ .∇)W
~ V.W 1 ∂P 1 ~ 2 W − W + 2 ∂V
+ (V + =− + ∇ (23)
∂t r r ∂θ Re r2 r2 ∂θ

3
 Analysis of PSE for Perturbed Flows

z momentum:
∂U ~ .∇)U
~ ∂P 1 ~2
+ (V =− + ∇ U (24)
∂t ∂z Re
Now, we substitute the perturbed velocity components given by eqn. (19) into the N-S equation
and subtract out the basic flow V~ and P equalities, as given by eqs. (22-24), and neglect higher
powers and product of p. The linearized disturbance equations may then be written as
 2
1 ∂2u ∂2u

∂u ∂U ∂u ∂u ∂U ∂P 1 ∂ u 1 ∂u
+u +U +V +v =− + + + + (25)
∂t ∂z ∂z ∂r ∂r ∂z Re ∂r2 r ∂r r2 ∂θ2 ∂z 2
 2
1 ∂2v ∂2u

∂u ∂V ∂v ∂v ∂V ∂P 1 ∂ v 1 ∂v v 2 ∂w
+u +U +V +v =− + + + + − −
∂t ∂z ∂z ∂r ∂r ∂r Re ∂r2 r ∂r r2 ∂θ2 ∂z 2 r2 r2 ∂θ
(26)
 2 2 2

∂w ∂w ∂w 1 1 ∂P 1 ∂ w 1 ∂w 1 ∂ w ∂ w w 2 ∂v
+U +V + V.w = − + + + 2 2 + − 2+ 2
∂t ∂z ∂r r r ∂θ Re ∂z 2 r ∂r r ∂θ ∂z 2 r r ∂θ
(27)

To eliminate the pressure terms appearing in the eqs. (25-27), at first, we subtract the r-
derivative of eqn. (25) from the z-derivative of eqn. (26)

∂2u ∂2v ∂ 2 u ∂v ∂U ∂2U ∂2U

 
∂V ∂u ∂U ∂u ∂u ∂U
− + +V 2 + +v 2 + + +u
∂r∂t ∂z∂t ∂r ∂r ∂r ∂r ∂r ∂r ∂r ∂z ∂r ∂z ∂r∂z
∂2V ∂ 2 v 2w ∂w
 
∂U ∂v ∂u ∂V ∂V ∂v
− + +u +2 +V 2 −
∂z ∂r ∂z ∂r ∂z∂r ∂z ∂z ∂z r ∂z
1 ∂u 1 ∂ 2 u ∂ 3 u 2 ∂2u 1 ∂3u ∂3u
 
1
= − 2 − + − + +
Re r ∂r r ∂r2 ∂r3 r3 ∂θ2 r2 ∂r∂θ2 ∂r∂z 2
 3
1 ∂3v ∂3v 2 ∂2w

1 ∂ v 1 ∂v
− 2
+ 2 2
+ 3− 2 − 2
Re ∂z∂r r ∂z∂θ ∂z r ∂z r ∂z∂θ
Similarly, from the θ and z direction equations, the equation after eliminating pressure terms gives
∂2w 1 ∂2u ∂2w ∂ 2 w V ∂w w ∂V
 
∂V ∂w ∂V ∂w
− + +V + +U 2 + −
∂z∂t r ∂θ∂t ∂z ∂r ∂z∂r ∂z ∂z ∂z r ∂z r ∂z
2 2 2
u ∂2U
 
1 ∂V ∂u v ∂ u 1 ∂U ∂u U ∂ u 1 ∂v ∂U v ∂ U 1 ∂u ∂U
− + + + + + + +
r ∂θ ∂r r ∂θ∂r r ∂θ ∂z r ∂θ∂z r ∂θ ∂r r ∂θ∂r r ∂θ ∂z r ∂θ∂z
 2 3 3 2

1 ∂ w 1 ∂ w ∂ w 2 ∂ v 1 ∂w
= + + + 2 −
Re ∂z∂r r2 ∂z∂θ2 ∂z 3 r ∂z∂θ r2 ∂z
1 ∂3u 1 ∂3u ∂3u
 
1
− + +
Re r ∂θ∂r2 r3 ∂θ3 ∂θ∂z 2
We eliminate the axial velocity term from the above equations by using the continuity equation
and by incorporating the exponential disturbance equation from eqn. (20), we get
∂u ∂v v 1 ∂w
+ + + =0 (28)
∂z ∂r  r r ∂θ 
1 0 v̂ in
⇒ û = − v̂ + + ŵ (29)
iα r r
where 0 represents derivative in r direction
Considering the flow to be invariable along θ, the above substitution leaves us with a linear
equation and its boundary conditions which are both homogeneous, it follows that the result-
ing equation is an eigenvalue problem. The problem can be represented in matrix form as (for
readability, we drop the cap on the perturbed velocity components)

4
 Analysis of PSE for Perturbed Flows

     
A11 A12 v B11 B12 v
=β (30)
A21 A22 w B21 B22 w

∂


The values of the elements of the matrix are given as here D→ ∂r

i ∂2U
       
1 ∂U 2 1 D 1 ∂U 1 2 1 D
A11 = − D − 2+ + D+ − D+ −U D − 2 +
α ∂z r r α ∂r∂z r ∂r r r r
2 2
   
i ∂V 1 D i 2 2 D ∂V ∂ U ∂U
+ D2 − 2 + + V D3 + 3 − 2 D + + D+ − iα
α ∂r r r α r r r ∂r ∂r2 ∂z
2
     
∂V 1 ∂ V 1 1 ∂V 1 D ∂V
+ U α2 + D+ − D+ − D2 − 2 + − iαV D − iα
∂z r ∂z 2 r α ∂z r r ∂r
2 2 2
     
∂ V iα 1 D 2n i 1 n i 1 D
− + D2 − 2 + − 3
D+ + 2
D2 − 2 +
∂z∂r Re r r Re.r α r Re.r α r r
2 3 2
   
1 i 6 6D 3D D 1 i 2 2 D
− D4 − 4 + 3 − 2 + − D3 + 3 − 2 D +
Re α r r r r Re.r α r r r
2
 
1 i 1 D 1 iα iαn 1 iα
+ 2
D2 − 2 + + iαD2 + D− 2
− iα3 −
Re.r α r r Re Re.r Re.r Re Re.r2

i ∂ 2 U in
       
1 ∂U in in ∂U in in in
A12 = − 2 − 2 + D + − −U − 2 + D
α ∂z r r α ∂r∂z r ∂r r r r
∂ 2 V in
       
i ∂V in in i 2in 2in in 2 ∂V in
+ − 2 + D + V − 2 + D + −
α ∂r r r α r3 r r ∂z r ∂z 2 r
2
     
1 ∂V in in iα in in in 2 in
− − 2 + D + − 2 + D −
α ∂z r r Re r r α Re.r3 r
in2 1
   
in in i 6in 6in 3in 2 in 3
+ − + D − − + D − D + D
α Re.r2 r2 r α r4 r3 r2 r
     
1 i 2in 2in in 2 1 i in in 2iα in
− − + D + − + D −
Re.r α r3 r2 r Re.r2 α r2 r r r

 
β 2 1 D
B11 = D − 2+ − αβ
α r r

 
β in in
B12 = − 2 + D
α r r

i ∂2U
       
n 1 1 1 ∂U 1 in 1
A21 = − D+ + D+ − D+ − U D+
r∗α r rα ∂θ∂z r r ∂θ r r r
2
   
1 ∂V 1 D Vn 1 D in ∂U 1 ∂ U
+ D2 − 2 + − D2 − 2 + + +
rα ∂θ r r rα r r r ∂r r ∂θ∂r
3
D2
     
nα 1 n 1 n 3 2 2
− D+ − D+ − D + 3 − 2D +
Re.r r Re.r3 α r Re.rα r r r
 
n 1 D 2αn
− D2 − 2 + −
Re.r2 α r r Re.r2

5
 Analysis of PSE for Perturbed Flows

i ∂ 2 U in U n2
       
n ∂U in 1 ∂U in i ∂V in in
A22 = − + − + 2 + − 2 + D
rα ∂z r rα ∂θ∂z r r ∂θ r r rα ∂θ r r
   
Vn in in ∂U ∂V V 1 ∂V nα in
− − 2 + D − iα + U α2 − D − iαV D − iα − −
rα r r ∂z ∂z r r ∂z Re.r r
n3
     
in n 2in 2in in 2 n in in
− + − + D + − + D
Re.r3 α r Re.rα r3 r2 r Re.r2 α r2 r
2 3
iα 2 iα iαn iα iα
+ D + D− − −
Re Re.r Re.r2 Re Re.r2

 
iβn 1
B21 = D+
αr r

 
iβn 1n
B22 = − αβ
αr r

The eqn. (30) has three parameters: α,c and ν. For a given profile, only a certain continuous but
limited sequence of these parameters the eigenvalues will satisfy the relation. The mathematical
problem is to find this sequence, which has a different functional form for spatial versus temporal
growth of disturbances.
A FORTRAN program that takes the velocity profile as input and evaluates the corresponding
eigenvalues from the relation given by eqn. (30) was used to analyse the flow for stability.

3 Parabolized Stability Equations (PSE) for Fluid Flow

3.1 Development
The laminar-turbulent transition of boundary layer flows led to the linear stability theory, assuming
parallel flow. The resulting eigenvalue problem, expressed as Orr-Sommerfeld (OSE) and Squire
equations, when used for boundary layer transition, showed deviations from the experimental
results for the neutral curve. These discrepancies were attributed to the local assumption of
parallel flow and the consideration of no upstream development of boundary layer. Consequently,
this led to a more general analysis that takes into account both the streamwise development and
upstream data of the instability. This analysis further led to the PSEs, applicable to 2D-flows (2D-
PSE). These equations are valid for convective instabilities and relax the assumption of parallel
flow.

3.2 Introduction
The PSEs are used to analyze the streamwise evolution of Fourier modes in weakly non-parallel
flows. It relies on the decomposition of each mode into a slowly varying amplitude function and
a wave function with slowly varying wave number. Analogous to the OSE, a BiGlobal stability
analysis generalises the flow assumptions in 2D plane. This concept is inadequate in prediction of
breakdown as it neglects the axial gradients that may influence the vortex. This necessitates an
analysis technique that can account for velocity and pressure gradients. Thus, the 3D-PSE concept
originated which has an advantage of being able to solve for arbitrarily complicated basic states
in the x, y plane.

6
 Analysis of PSE for Perturbed Flows

3.3 2D-PSE for Incompressible Flow

The continuity and non-linear momentum equations for an incompressible fluid with constant
density and viscosity are given by

∇~v = 0 (31)
∂~v 1
+ (~v .∇)~v = − ∇p + ν∇2~v (32)
∂t ρ

In Cartesian coordinates (x, y, z) we use velocity components v̂ = (û, v̂, ŵ) and

∂ ∂ ∂
∇= î + ĵ + k̂ (33)
∂x ∂y ∂z
We consider the stability of 2D steady laminar boundary-layer flows neglecting the mean flow
and derivatives in the spanwise z direction. For stability analysis, we decompose the total flow
field v̂, p̂ into the steady laminar basic flow V, P and the disturbance v, p.

v̂ = V + v, p̂ = P + p (34)
−1
We introduce a term ε such that ξ = x, where  is of order O(Re ). This accounts for the slow
variation of variables with respect to the streamwise direction. Owing to uniformity in z, the steady
basic flow takes the form V = [U (ξ, y), V (ξ, y), 0]. Here, Reynolds number is Rex = Uνr x with a
proper reference velocity Ur . Under boundary-layer approximation, the basic flow is governed by

Ux + Vy = 0 (35)
1
U Ux + V Uy = −Px + Uyy (36)
Re
0 = −Py (37)
1
U Wx + V W y = Wyy (38)
Re
For disturbances v, p we obtain the stability equations

ux + vy + wz = 0 (39)
1
vt + U ux + uUx + V uy + vUy + W uz + px − (uxx + uyy + uzz ) = − (uux + vuy + wuz ) (40)
Re
1
vt + U vx + V vy + vVy + W vx + py − (vxx + vyy + vzz ) = − (uvx + vvy + wvz ) (41)
Re
1
wt + U wx + uWx + V wy + vWy + W wz + pz − (wxx + wyy + wzz ) = − (uwx + vWy + wwz )
Re
(42)

where we have neglected the small term u0 Vx in the y-equation. For a given basic flow, this system
is equivalent to the Navier-Stokes equations and hence of elliptic type.
For the instability study, we apply the following homogeneous boundary conditions

u = 0, v = 0, w = 0 at u = 0 (43)
u −→ 0, v −→ 0, w −→ 0 as y −→ ∞ (44)

as the inhomogeneous conditions are satisfied by the basic flow. In non-linear problems, however,
the fluctuating components of the disturbance also create a distortion of the steady mean flow

7
 Analysis of PSE for Perturbed Flows

(ū, v̄, w̄). Since the mean flow and its distortion are governed by the boundary-layer equations, we
must admit v̄ 6= 0 as y −→ ∞ with

vy −→ 0 as y −→ ∞ (45)

and p̄x = 0. In general, the nonlinear stability equations can be solved under inhomogeneous
boundary conditions to account for disturbances at the wall or in the free stream.

3.4 PSE Concept in Natural Variables

We maintain the decomposition of the disturbance q into an amplitude function q0 and a wave
function χ and write the disturbance in the form

q(x, y, z, t) = q0 (x, y)χ(x, z, t) (46)

χ = exp(iθ(x) + iβz − iΩt), θx = α(x) (47)

We note that

qx = (iαq0 + q0x ) χ (48)

2 0
2iαq0x q0x x 0


qxx = −α q + + + iαx q χ (49)

and by substituting the components of eqns. (46 − 47) into the linearized eqns. (39 − 42), we
obtain in nondimensional form (Henceforth, the 0 from the amplitude function is dropped and 0
terms will represent the disturbances)

∂u ∂v dα dα
L1 u + L2 v + M1 + M2 + N1 u + N2 v = 0 (50)
∂x ∂x dx dx

where the operators L, M and N act only in y and are given as follows

L1 = −iΩD + iαUy + iαU D + Ux D + Uyx + Vy D + V D2 + iβWy + iβW D

α2 1 3 β2 iαΩ
+ D− D − D− D
Re Re Re β
iα2 iα2 α
+ Uy + U D − Wx D − Wxy + Vy D
β β β
3
α α α αβ
+ V D2 + iαWy + D− D3 + D
β βRe βRe Re
L2 = Uy D + Uyy − αΩ − αUx + α2 U − Vx D − iαV D − iαVy − iβWx
iα3 iα 2 iαβ 2
+ αβW − + D − Vxy −
Re Re re
iα2 β
+ βΩ − αβU + iβV D + iβVy − β 2 W +
Re
iβ 2 iV 3 iα2 2
− D − D − Wy D − Wyy + Wy D − D
Re β βRe
2iα Ω 2α
M1 = Uy + U D − D− D+ Uy
Re β β
2U α iV 2 iVy 3iα2
+ D− D + Wy − D− D
β β β βRe
i iβ
+ D3 − D
βRe Re

8
 Analysis of PSE for Perturbed Flows

3α2 1 2
M2 = iΩ − Ux − 2iαU − V D − Vy − iβW − + D
Re Re
β2 2αβ iUy iU 2 2α 2
− + iβU + − D− D − D
Re Re β β βRe
i Uy 3iα U
N1 = − D + − D+ D
Re β βRe β
3α β 1
N2 = iU − − − D2
Re Re βRe

where now D = ∂/∂y

The derivation of eqn. (60) from eqns. (31 − 32) first involves the elimination of the pressure by
taking the curl of the momentum equations which provides the vorticity transport equations. The
Orr-Sommerfeld equation is obtained by subtracting the z derivative of the x-vorticity equation
from the x derivative of the z-vorticity equation and eliminating w, via continuity. The Squire
equation is the z derivative of the y-vorticity equation.
For a proper function α(x), the streamwise variation of q0 is governed by the wave function
χ while the derivatives qx and αx are small. The PSE approximation assumes the variation of q
and α as sufficiently small to neglect qxx , αxx , αx qx and their higher derivatives with respect to
x. The eqn. (50) is obtained after application of this approximation. Within PSE approximation,
the streamwise derivatives of q0 take the form
∂ k q0
 
k k k−1 ∂q k(k − 1) k−2 dα
= i α q − ikα −i α q χ (51)
∂xk ∂x 2 dx
and hence, the operators may be related as,
∂L 1 ∂M
M = −i ,N = (52)
∂α 2 ∂α
The operators defined above have been found to comply with these relations.

3.5 Closure and Norm

Solving eqn. (50) as an initial boundary value problem is difficult due to the appearance of dα/dx
which affects the operators. In absence of any information regarding the streamwise changes, we
can impose the restriction
αx = 0 (53)
and absorb all streamwise changes into the amplitude function. This choice is most convenient
for the first step of the numerical integration of eqn. (50) as application of the equation for all x
would maintain the error preventing convergence to the correct solution.
Alternatively, a streamwise independent norm can be imposed on q. Such a norm can be
applied at a fixed position given by the maximum streamwise rms fluctuation of the function |u|.
The deformation of this function may lead to jumps in value of location. We, thus, prefer an
integral norm.
From eqn. (49), we obtain
q
−i (lnq0 )x = α − i x (54)
q
where the last term causes a dependence of the local wave number on y, except if qx = 0. To
remove this dependency, the equation is multiplied with the weight |q|2 , integrated over the domain
Θ in y, and divided by the integral of |q|2 . This yields
|q|2 (lnq0 )x dy
R R †
Θ R
q qx dy
−i 2 dy
= α − i RΘ (55)
Θ
|q| Θ
|q|2 dy

9
 Analysis of PSE for Perturbed Flows

where the dagger denotes the complex conjugate. We now choose

Z
q† qx dy = 0 (56)
Θ

to normalize q and consider eqn. (55) as the definition of α(x).

Eqn. (56) minimises the streamwise change ∂q/∂x in a weighted sense across the y domain.
The definition of α(x) obtained from eqn. (55) by deleting pressure and replacing q by the vector
of velocity amplitudes v is of particular importance. The denominator then is the kinetic energy
integral, and the norm is
Z
v† vx dy = 0 (57)
Θ

Equation (50) along with one of the conditions (56) and (57), or any suitable norm are the
closed system of parabolized stability eqquations (PSE). This system permits the simultaneous
calculation of α(x) and q(x, y) in a streamwise marching procedure. Different norms lead to
different partitions (46) of the solution q0 . The physical solution q0 , however, is the same to within
small effects of the norm on the PSE approximation.

3.6 Solution Procedure

Before solving eqns. (50) and (57), we need to specify initial and boundary conditions. We specify
Re, β, Ω and V, provide the same estimates α0 for the eigenvalue and q0 for the eigenfunction as
initial conditions at xs , and apply the homogeneous boundary conditions (43 − 44).
To solve the PSE, the differential operators (52) and boundary conditions are converted into
algebraic form by any method suitable for the Orr-Sommerfeld problem. We use a spectral collo-
cation method with Chebyshev polynomials, together with a domain transformation.
The streamwise derivative is in the simplest case approximated by the two-point finite difference
1

qx ≈ qj+1 − qj (58)
4xj
where j ≥ 0 is the step index and qj = qj (y) = q(xj , y). Since α appears in the differential opera-
tors, the system is nonlinear, and a predictor-corrector approach is employed to find the solution at
xj+1 . the explicit forward difference formula leads to numerical instability. Although second-order
accurate, the central difference formula has not been found advantageous in comparison with the
first-order accurate backward difference
1

(qx )j+1 ≈ qj+1 − qj (59)
4xj
Eqn. (50) then assumes the form
4xj Lnj+1 + Mj+1
n
+ (αx )nj+1 Nj+1
n
  n n
qj+1 = Mj+1 qj (60)
where the subscripts 1, 2 have been dropped from the operators L, M, N and (αx )nj+1 = αj+1
n
− αj ,
n being the iteration count. Starting with αj+1 = αj according to eqn. (53), we obtain qnj+1 and
n

exploit eqn. (55) to obtain an updated wavenumber

2i Θ (qnj+1 )† (qnj+1 − qj )dy
R
n+1 n
αj+1 = αj+1 − R (61)
4xj Θ
|qnj+1 |2 dy
The integration-update cycle is continued until eqn. (56) is satisfied within a given error limit and
the solution has converged to αj+1 , qj+1 (y). We then proceed to the next step in x where a better
estimate for α and αx is known. The marching procedure terminates if the convergence criterion
is not satisfied within a given number of iterations.
The use of marching technique for solving the PSE is permitted only if the stability problem
is governed by downstream propagating information. The PSE approach is valid for convectively
unstable flows which consist of pipe and channel flows; entrance flows; and boundary layers, mixing
layers, and far wakes.

10
 Analysis of PSE for Perturbed Flows

Conclusion
The parabolized stability equations have developed into a mature approach to analyse the receptiv-
ity, linear, and nonlinear stability of convectively unstable flows into the late stages of transition.
The applications of the PSE approach for transition analysis in aerodynamic flows aim towards
disturbance environment and location of the transition point based on the nonlinear changes in
skin friction. The methods discussed here in the report will be useful in better documentation of
the disturbance environment.

References
[1] Michael S. Broadhurst and Spencer J. Sherwin. The parabolised stability equations for 3d-
flows: Implementation and numerical stability. Applied Numerical Mathematics, 58:10171029,
2008.
[2] Thorwald Herbert. Parabolized stability equations. Special Course on Progress in Transition
Modelling, AGARD REPORT 793:4/1–34, 1994.
[3] Thorwald Herbert. Parabolized stability equations. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 29:245–
283, 1997.
[4] Fei Li and Mujeeb R. Malik. Spectral analysis of parabolized stability equations. Computers
& Fluids, Vol. 26:pp. 279–297, 1997.
[5] S.S. Motsa and P. Sibanda. On the chebyshev spectral collocation method in channel and jet
flows. Journal of Pure Applied Mathematics, 1(1):36–47, 2001.

[6] Helen L. Reed. Parabolized stability equations: 2-d flows. NATO, RTO-EN-AVT-151:4/1–26.
[7] Vassilios Theofilis. Advances in global linear instability analysis of nonparallel and three-
dimensional flows. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 39:249315, 2003.

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