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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
| MATH3620 | Fluid Dynamics 2 |
This module is mutually exclusive with
| MATH5376M | Advanced 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 type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Lecture | 17 | 1.00 | 17.00 |
| Private study hours | 133.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 17.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150.00 | ||
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Regular examples sheetsMethods of assessment
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Open Book exam | 2 hr 30 mins | 100.00 |
| 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 websiteLast updated: 17/12/2020
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