Adv. Theor. Appl. Mech., Vol. 4, 2011, no.

3, 113 - 122

Hydrodynamic and Hydromagnetic Stability of Two

Superposed Walters B' Viscoelastic Fluids
in Porous Medium
S. K. Kango
Department of Mathematics, Govt. College, Haripur (Manali)
Himachal Pradesh 175136, India
skkango72@gmail.com
Abstract
The stability of two superposed Walters B' viscoelastic fluids is considered in porous
medium. In the potentially stable case, the system is stable or unstable if the kinematic
viscoelasticity is less than or greater than the medium permeability divided by
medium porosity and in the potentially unstable case, the system is unstable. The
effect of a variable horizontal magnetic field is also considered. In the presence of
magnetic field, for stable case, the system is stable or unstable if the kinematic
viscoelasticity is less than or greater than the medium permeability divided by
medium porosity, whereas the system is unstable for all wave numbers in the absence
of the magnetic field for the potentially unstable arrangement.
Mathematics Subject Classification: 76A10, 76D50, 76E25, 76S05
Keywords: Stability; viscoelasticity; Rivlin-Ericksen fluid; suspended particles;
porous medium

1. Introduction
The instability of the plane interface separating two Newtonian fluids when
one is superposed over the other, under varying assumptions of hydrodynamics and
hydromagnetics, has been studied by several researchers and a comprehensive

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S. K. Kango

account of these investigations has been given by Chandrasekhar [11]. The influence
of viscosity on the stability of the plane interface separating two incompressible
superposed fluids of uniform densities, when the whole system is immersed in a
uniform horizontal magnetic field, has been studied by Bhatia [5]. Sharma [7] has
studied the thermal instability of a layer of Oldroydian viscoelastic fluid acted on by a
uniform rotation and found that the rotation has a stabilizing effect under certain
conditions but has a destabilizing effect also under different conditions. This is in
contrast to the thermal instability of Maxwellian viscoelastic fluid in the presence of a
uniform rotation, considered by Bhatia and Steiner [6], where rotation is found to
have a destabilizing effect. Sharma and Sharma [9] have studied the stability of the
plane interface separating two Oldroydian viscoelastic superposed fluids of uniform
densities.
Chandra [3] observed a contradiction between the theory for the onset of
convection in fluids heated from below and his experiment. He performed the
experiment in an air layer and found that the instability depended on the depth of
layer. A Bnard-type cellular convection with fluid descending at the cell centre was
observed when the predicted gradients were imposed for layers deeper than 10 mm. A
convection which was different in character from that in deeper layers occurred at
much lower gradients than predicted, if the layer depth was less than 7 mm and called
this columnar instability. He added an aerosol to mark the flow pattern. Motivated by
interest in fluid-particle mixtures and columnar instability, Scanlon and Segel [2]
studied the effect of suspended particles on the onset of Bnard convection and found
that the critical Rayleigh number was reduced solely because the heat capacity of the
pure gas was supplemented by that of the particles. Generally the magnetic field has a
stabilizing effect on the instability problem but a few exceptions are there. For
example, Kent [1] studied the effect of a horizontal magnetic field, which varies in the
vertical direction, on the stability of parallel flows and showed that the system is
unstable under certain conditions, while in the absence of magnetic field the system is
known to be stable. Sharma and Singh [8] have considered the stability of stratified
fluid in the presence of suspended particles and variable magnetic field.
In all the above studies, the fluids have been considered to be Newtonian or
viscoelastic (Maxwellian or Oldroydian). There are many elastico-viscous fluids that
cannot be characterized by Maxwells constitutive relations or Oldroyds constitutive
relations. One such fluid of elastico-viscous fluids is Walters B' fluid [4]. When a
fluid flows through a porous medium, the gross effect is represented by the usual
Darcys law. The effect of suspended particles on the stability of stratified fluids in
porous medium might be of industrial and chemical engineering importance. Further
motivation for this study is the fact that knowledge concerning fluid-particle mixtures
is not commensurate with their industrial and scientific importance. A study on the
stability of two superposed Walters B' viscoelastic liquids has been made by Sharma
and Kumar [10].
Keeping in mind the relevance and importance in chemical technology and
geophysics, the present paper considers the stability of the plane interface separating
two incompressible superposed Walters B' fluids in porous medium. The stability of

Hydrodynamic and hydromagnetic stability

115

electrically conducting superposed Walters B' fluids in porous medium in presence of

uniform horizontal magnetic field has also been considered.

2. Formulation of the problem and perturbation equations

Consider a static state in which an incompressible Walters B' viscoelastic
fluid is arranged in horizontal strata in a porous medium. The pressure p and density
are functions of the vertical coordinate z only. The character of the equilibrium of
this initial static state is determined, as usual, by supposing that the system is slightly
disturbed and then by following its further evolution.
r
r
Let , p, q (u, v, w), g ( 0, 0, g ) , , , and k1 denote respectively the perturbations
in density , pressure p , fluid velocity ( 0, 0, 0 ) , gravitational acceleration, kinematic
viscosity, kinematic viscoelasticity, medium porosity and medium permeability. Then
the liberalized perturbation equations of Walters B' viscoelastic fluids through porous
medium are

r
1 q
p r 1
r
=
+g
( )q ,
t

k1
t

(1)

r
.q = 0,

(2)

(3)
= w( D ).
t
Analyzing the disturbances into normal modes, we seek solutions whose
dependence on x , y and t is give by

exp(ik x x + ik y y + nt ),

(4)

where k x , k y are wave numbers along x and y -directions, k = ( k x2 + k y2 )

1/2

and n is,

in general, a complex constant.

Writing equations (1)-(3) in scalar form

nu = ik x p

1
( n)u,
k1

(5)

nv = ik y p

1
( n)v,
k1

(6)

116

nw = D p g

S. K. Kango

1
( n) w,
k1

(7)

ik x u + ik y v + Dw = 0,

(8)

n = ( D ) w,

(9)

d
.
dz
Using equations (8) and (9), eliminating u , v, and p between equations (5)-(7),
we obtain

where D =

gk 2 w ( D )
n
D ( Dw ) k 2 w +
+
n

1
D {( n ) Dw} k 2 ( n ) w = 0.

k1

(10)

3. Two superposed viscoelastic Walters B' fluids separated by a

horizontal boundary
Consider the case when two superposed Walters B' viscoelastic fluids of
uniform
densities 1 and 2 ,
uniform
viscosities 1 and 2
and
uniform
viscoelasticities 1 and 2 are separated by a horizontal boundary at z = 0 . The
subscripts 1 and 2 distinguish the lower and the upper fluids respectively. Then in
each region of constant , constant , constant and constant mN , equation (10)
becomes
( D 2 k 2 ) w = 0.

(11)

The general solution of equation (11) is

w = Ae + kz + Be kz ,

(12)

where A and B are arbitrary constants. The boundary conditions to be satisfied in

the present problem are
The velocity w 0 when z + (for the upper fluid) and z (for
(i)
the lower fluid).
(ii)
w( z ) is continuous at z = 0 .

Hydrodynamic and hydromagnetic stability

(iii)

117

The jump conditions at the interference w between the fluids. This is

obtained by integrating equation (10) across the interface at z = 0 and is

n
1
[ 2 Dw2 1Dw1 ]z =0 + ( 2 2 n ) Dw2 ( 1 1n ) Dw1 Z =0 +
k1

gk 2
( 2 1 ) w0 = 0,
(13)
n
where w0 is the common value of w at z = 0 .
Applying the boundary conditions (i) and (ii) to the general solution (12), we can
write
+

w1 = Ae + kz , ( z < 0)

(14)

w2 = Ae kz , ( z > 0)
(15)
where the same constant A has been chosen to ensure the continuity of w at z = 0 .
Applying the condition (13) to the solutions (14) and (15), we obtain

n 2 1 ( 2 2 + 1 1 ) + n [ 2 2 + 1 1]
k1

k1
gk ( 2 1 ) = 0,

where 1,2 =

(16)

1,2

= 1,2 .
, v1,2 = 1,2 , v1,2
1 + 2
1,2
1,2

Here we make the assumption that the kinematic viscosities and kinematic
viscoelasticities of the two fluids are equal i.e. v1 = v 2 = v and v1 = v 2 = v . However,
this simplifying assumption does not obscure any of the essential features of the
problem. And equation (16) becomes


(17)
n 2 1 + n + gk ( 2 1 ) = 0.
k1
k1
(a) Stable Case ( 2 < 1 )

For the potentially stable arrangement ( 2 < 1 )

and <

k1

, all the

coefficients of equation (17) are positive. Therefore, both the three roots of equation
(17) are either real and negative or there are complex conjugates with negative real
parts. The system is, thus, stable in each case.
k
However, for the potentially stable arrangement ( 2 < 1 ) and > 1 , the

coefficients of n in equation (17) is negative. There is a change of sign in the

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S. K. Kango

coefficients of equation (17 and hence equation (17) allows a positive root. The
system is, therefore, unstable.
This is in contrast to the stability of Newtonian superposed fluids in porous
medium where the system is always stable for the stable configuration. For the
Walters B' viscoelastic superposed fluids in porous medium, the system can be stable
or unstable if the kinematic viscoelasticity is less than or greater than the medium
permeability divided by medium porosity
(b) Unstable Case ( 2 > 1 )
For the potentially unstable case ( 2 > 1 ) , the constant term in equation (17)
is negative. Equation (17) involves a change of sign and hence allows a positive root.
So the system is unstable. Thus for the potentially unstable arrangement, the interface
between two Walters B' elastico-viscous fluids in porous medium is unstable.

4. Effect of a horizontal magnetic field

Here we consider a static state in which an incompressible, infinitely electrically
conducting Walters B' elastico-viscous fluid is arranged in horizontal strata in porous
r
medium in the presence of uniform horizontal magnetic field H [H ( z ),0,0]. Let
r
h (hx , hy , hz ) denotes the perturbation in magnetic field and e stands for magnetic
permeability, then the linearized hydromagnetic perturbation equations, relevant to
the problem, are
r
r
r
1 q
p r 1
r
=
+g
q + e h H ,
t
t

k1
4

(18)

r
.h = 0,

(19)

r
h
r

= H . q ,
t
together with equations (2)-(3).
Writing equations (18)-(19) in scalar form, we have

1
nu = ik x p ( n)u,

k1

1
nv = ik y p ( n)v + e ( ik x hy ik y hx ) ,
4

k1

1
nw = D p g ( n) w + e ( ik x hz Dhx ) ,
4

k1

(20)

(21)
(22)
(23)

Hydrodynamic and hydromagnetic stability

119

ik x hx + ik y hy + Dhz = 0,

(24)

nhx = ik x Hu,
nhy = ik x Hv,

(25)
(26)

nhz = ik x Hw,
(27)
together with equations (8) and (9).
Eliminating u , v, hx , hy , hz , and p between equations (21)-(23) and using equations

(8), (9) and (24)-(27), we obtain

n
1
D ( Dw ) k 2 w + D {( n ) Dw} k 2 ( n ) w +

k1
+

e H 2 k x2 2 2 gk 2
( D k ) + n ( D ) w = 0.
4 n

(28)

Here also we consider the case of two uniform Walters B' viscoelastic fluids
of uniform densities 1 and 2 , uniform viscosities 1 and 2 and uniform
viscoelasticities 1 and 2 , separated by a horizontal boundary. In each region,
Equation (28) reduces to equation (11) and the proper solutions satisfying the relevant
boundary conditions are given by (14) and (15). Integrating equation (28) across the
interface at z = 0 , we obtain the jump condition
k2
n
gk 2
[ 2 Dw2 1Dw1 ]Z =0 + ( 2 1 ) w0 + e x [ Dw2 Dw1 ]Z =0 +
4 n

n
1
+ ( 2 2 n ) Dw2 ( 1 1n ) Dw1 Z =0 = 0.
(29)
k1
Applying the solutions (14) and (15) to the equation (29) and simplifying, we obtain


n 2 1 v + n v + 2k x2VA2 gk ( 2 1 ) = 0,
k1
k1

(30)

1/2

e H 2

where V =
is the Alfvn velocity. As in section 3, the kinematic
4 ( 1 + 2 )
viscosities and kinematic viscoelasticities of the two fluids are assumed equal i.e.
v1 = v 2 = v and v1 = v 2 = v .
2
A

(a) Stable Case ( 2 < 1 )

It is evident from equation (30) that for the potentially stable
arrangement ( 2 < 1 ) , the system is stable or unstable according as

120

S. K. Kango

v < or >

k1

(31)

Thus for Walters B' viscoelastic superposed fluids for stable case in porous medium
in hydromagnetics, the system is stable or unstable if the kinematic viscoelasticity is
less than or greater than the medium permeability divided by medium porosity. This is
in contrast to the stability of Newtonian superposed fluids in porous medium in
hydromagnetics where the system is always stable for stable configuration.
(b) Unstable Case ( 2 > 1 )

For potentially unstable arrangement ( 2 > 1 ) and v >

k1

, the magnetic field

has got a stabilizing effect and the system is stable for all wave-numbers which satisfy
the inequality
2k x2VA2 > gk ( 2 1 ) ,

or k > k *,
where k * =

g ( 2 1 )

2VA2

(32)

sec 2

r
r
and is the angle between k and magnetic field H .

However, for the potentially unstable arrangement ( 2 > 1 ) and v >

k1

, the system is

unstable.
For the potentially unstable configuration and for two viscous superposed
Newtonian fluids in porous medium in hydrodynamics, the system is unstable for all
wave numbers whereas in hydromagnetics, the magnetic field has stabilizing effect
and completely stabilizes the wave-number band k > k *,
where k * =

g ( 2 1 )

2V

2
A

sec 2

This is in contrast to the case of Walters B viscoelastic superposed fluids in porous

medium in hydromagnetics for the potentially unstable configuration. Here the system
is stable for the wave-number band k > k *, if the kinematic viscoelasticity is less than
the medium permeability divided by medium porosity. However, the system is always
unstable if the kinematic viscoelasticity is greater than the medium permeability
divided by medium porosity.

Hydrodynamic and hydromagnetic stability

121

References
[1] A. Kent: Instability of laminar flow of a Magneto-Fluid, Phys. Fluids. 9,
p.p.1286, 1966.

[2] J.W. Scanlon and L.A. Segel : Some effects of suspended particles on the onset
of Bnard convection, Phys. Fluids 16, p.p.1573, 1973.

[3] K. Chandra: Instability of fluid heated from below, Proc. Roy. Soc. (Lon.).
A164, p.p.231, 1938.

[4] K. Walters: The motion of an elastico-viscous liquid contained between coaxial

Cylinders, Quart. J. Mech. Apple. Math., 13, p.p.444, 1960.

[5] P.K. Bhatia: Rayleigh-Taylor instability of two viscous superposed conducting

fluids, Nuovo Cimento, 19B, p.p.161, 1974.

[6] P.K. Bhatia and J.M. Steiner: Convective instability in a rotating viscoelastic
fluid layer, Z.Angew, Math.Mech. 52, p.p.321, 1972.

[7] R.C. Sharma: Effect of Rotation on Thermal Instability of a Viscoelastic Fluid,

Acta Physica Hungarica. 40, p.p.11, 1976.

[8] R.C. Sharma and B. Singh: stability of stratified fluid in the presence of
suspended particles and variable magnetic field, J.Math.Phys.Sci. 24, p.p.45,
1990.

[9] R.C. Sharma and K.C. Sharma: Stability of the plane interface separating two
Oldroydian viscoelastic superposed fluids of uniform densities, Acta Physcia
Hungarica. 45, p.p.213, 1978.
[10] R.C. Sharma and P.Kumar: On the Stability of Two Superposed Walters B'
Viscoelastic Liquids, Czech.J.Phys. 47, p.p.197, 1997.

122

[11] S. Chandrasekhar: Hydrodynamic and Hydromagnetic Stability,

Dover Publications, New York 1981.

Received: February, 2011

S. K. Kango