A Study on the Flows of Dilute Polymer Solutions : 2nd Report, On the Stability of the Laminar Boundary Layer Flow

抄録

Considering the pronounced reduction of energy dissipation in turbulent flows of viscoelastic fluids, it is predicted that the elasticity of the fluids may affect the stability of laminar flows. In this report, the problem of the stability of the laminar boundary-layer flow along a flat plate with no pressure gradient is treated. In the analysis, the Denn model is used as the rheological model for viscoelastic fluids, and the stability equation is formed with the aid of the method of small disturbances. The analytical results show that the elasticity of the fluid destabilizes the flow and that the non-Newtonian viscosity of the fluid stabilizes the flow.