6.

DISCUSSION ( From thesis, June 1971) An interesting and curious result occurs when applying the current method to the single tube problem of Olsen and Shapiro. The results of Figure 9 are obtained by extrapolating theoretical results for mean Reynolds numbers below 2000. It has been noted that the maximum Reynolds number in the experiments of Olsen and Shapiro was about 2500. For calculations using the new method it was found that the solution would eventually go unstable if the mean flow Reynolds number exceeded approximately 2000. This is particularly interesting since ordinary instability techniques (33, 34) applied to flow in a rigid tube fail to verify the instabilities observed experimentally. These techniques predict stable tube flow for all Reynolds numbers. It should be noted that ordinary instability theory neglects the non-linear convection terms in the momentum equation. This assumption is made so that a disturbance which is a linear solution can be applied. The non-linear terms might be important (34) for prediction of laminar instability. Also, ordinary instability theory pertains only to a perfectly rigid wall. Small vibrations in the tube wall caused by a coupling with the flow might offer the mechanism to produce strong disturbances. The amplification mechanism might be similar to a resonance phenomena in that a constructive reinforcement may be produced which outweighs the dissipative effects of fluid viscosity. Although these numerical results are not conclusive, in that a detailed parametric study of the phenomenon was not performed, some interesting observations were made. It was determined that the instabilities were apparently not the result of accumulated numerical error. This was done by holding the boundary conditions fixed for a long period of time and observing numerical fluctuations. Secondly, it was observed that changes in the mesh size for the numerical calculation did not alter the results greatly. Last and perhaps most interesting, it was noted that the flow would not remain stable if a disturbance due to wall motion had caused an inflection point to occur in the velocity profile as the flow approached a steady state. This was true only if the Reynolds number of the flow exceeded 2000. Such a phenomenon is associated with the predicted instability of planar flows using established techniques.

The correctness of the observed instabilities is supported by recent literature related to the numerical solution of fluid flow problems. The following observations were noted. 1. A text by Ames (35) discusses the numerical stability of the method of characteristics. He states that at present there is no general theory to predict the stability of the complete set of nonlinear hyperbolic equations used in this thesis. The linear equations, however, are subject to stability analysis. It is shown that the method of characteristics employing the mesh of characteristics is stable. For this technique the numerical accuracy is also optimum. 2. Ladyzhenskaya (36) has conducted a series of studies to investigate the capability of the Navier-Stokes equations to describe a physical flow at all Reynolds numbers. She notes, in particular, that the non-linearity of the Navier-Stokes equations is responsible for a multitude of solutions to exist above a finite Reynolds number, Re1. Furthermore, it is stated that above a Reynolds number, Re2 > Re1 , no solutions exist. This would serve to explain why no stable solutions could be obtained above Re = 2000 using the method in this thesis. 3. Several recent numerical studies have shed light on the numerical and physical instabilities encountered when using the non-linear Navier-Stokes equations. DiPrima et al. (37) discussed the necessity of retaining the non-linear terms in the numerical approach. In particular he also mentions the importance of the detailed form of the velocity profile and the destabilizing effects of viscosity in the process of laminar instability. Both of these effects have been accounted for in the present theory. Loer (38) also points to the importance of retaining the non-linear terms in the study of the instability of the laminar boundary layer. He states that these non-linear terms tend to amplify large disturbances imposed upon the boundary layer. He has succeeded in showing that the laminar boundary layer is unstable at high Reynolds numbers (Rex > 10**5 ). These observations support the physical correctness of the instabilities observed in the present method. Jain (39) discusses the numerical solution of viscous, incom-

pressible flow about a circular cylinder. He states that it is known that a well behaved solution of an unsteady non-linear problem based on the Navier-Stokes equations may not exist during the entire interval of time, t > 0; the solution may become irregular after a finite time period. These observations also tend to agree with the results obtained with the present method. Dr. Larry Cooper 1-15-2011 ============================================================== =