Vortex Instability of Mixed Convection Flow Over a Horizontal Flat Plate

Abstract

The vortex instability of laminar, mixed-convection flow over an isothermal, horizontal flat plate is investigated analytically by the linear stability theory. In the analysis, the main flow and thermal fields are treated as non-parallel and the disturbances are assumed to have the form of a stationary longitudinal vortex roll that is periodic in the spanwise direction. Numerical results for the critical Grashof and Reynolds numbers that predict the first occurrence of the vortex rolls are obtained for fluids with Prandtl numbers of 0.7 and 7. It is found that the flow becomes more susceptible to vortex mode of instability as the buoyancy force increases. The present results are compared with available experimental data and also with analytical results from the wave mode of instability.

Department(s)

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Flow (Dynamics); Mixed Convection; Vortices; Flat Plates; Force; Stability; Buoyancy; Fluids; Reynolds Number; Waves

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0022-1481

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1981 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 1981

Link to Full Text

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