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2020/21 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

MATH3375 Hydrodynamic Stability

15 creditsClass Size: 40

Module manager: Dr Adrian Barker
Email: A.J.Barker@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

Pre-requisites

MATH3620Fluid Dynamics 2

This module is mutually exclusive with

MATH5376MAdvanced Hydrodynamic Stability

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module provides an introduction to the idea of the instability of fluid flows. This is a very important concept in hydrodynamics. For example, it is straightforward to derive an expression for a simple, laminar flow of fluid down a pipe. But will this simple flow always be realised in practice? This depends on whether the flow is stable or not. The ideas will be illustrated by looking in detail at three problems; the instability of fluids due to convection, the instability of rotating fluids, and the instability of shear flows.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

- understand the equations of viscous and inviscid fluid dynamics and the ideas of hydrodynamic stability theory.

- apply the ideas of linear stability theory to the various problems of Rayleigh-Bénard convection, swirling flows and parallel shear flows.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:

- understand the equations of viscous and inviscid fluid dynamics and the ideas of hydrodynamic stability theory.

- apply the ideas of linear stability theory to the various problems of Rayleigh-Bénard convection, swirling flows and parallel shear flows.


Syllabus

- Revision of the governing equations of inviscid and viscous fluid dynamics.
- Introduction to the ideas of hydrodynamic stability (linear and nonlinear).
- Linear theory of Rayleigh-Bénard convection. Derivation of governing equations in the Boussinesq approximation. Nondimensionalisation and boundary conditions. Analysis of dispersion relation. Global bounds for stability.
- Linear theory of swirling flows; Rayleigh's criterion. Application to Taylor-Couette flow.
- The linear stability of parallel shear flows; Squire's theorem, Rayleigh's inflexion point criterion, Fjørtoft's criterion. Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. Stability of piecewise linear flows. Effect of stratification: Richardson number criterion.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture171.0017.00
Private study hours133.00
Total Contact hours17.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)150.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Regular examples sheets

Methods of assessment


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Open Book exam2 hr 30 mins100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 17/12/2020

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