PHYSICS OF FLUIDS 18, 124101 共2006兲

Linear stability of a nonorthogonal axisymmetric stagnation flow

on a rotating cylinder
Mustapha Amaouche
Laboratoire de Physique Théorique, Université de Béjaïa, Route de Targua Ouzemour Béjaïa, Algeria
Faïçal Nait Bouda and Hamou Sadata兲
Laboratoire d’Etudes Thermiques, Université de Poitiers, 40 avenue du Recteur Pineau,
86022 Poitiers, France
共Received 24 May 2006; accepted 30 October 2006; published online 14 December 2006兲
The present analysis deals with the onset of instability in an axisymmetric stagnation flow obliquely
impinging on a uniformly rotating circular cylinder. The basic flow is described by an exact solution
of the Navier-Stokes equations, discovered by Weidmann and Putkaradze 关Eur. J. Mech. B/Fluids
22, 123 共2003兲兴. An eigenvalue problem for the linear stability is formulated, regardless of the free
stream obliqueness, and then solved numerically by means of a collocation method using Laguerre’s
polynomials. It is established that the basic stagnation flow is stable for sufficiently high Reynolds
numbers. This is in conformity with the unconditional linear stability of two-dimensional Hiemenz
stagnation flow. Instability occurs for Reynolds numbers smaller than some threshold value that
increases with the rotation rate of the cylinder. At criticality, the flow undergoes a Hopf bifurcation,
leading then to an oscillatory secondary motion. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.
关DOI: 10.1063/1.2403179兴

I. INTRODUCTION Manly11 to be a source of instability. The effect of blowing

A wide variety of industrial applications involves both
planar and axisymmetric stagnation flows where special ef-
fects such as obliqueness of the free stream, body rotation,
thermal, and electromagnetic effects may be important, par-
ticularly in influencing their stability properties. Impinging
jets, for example, are an established technique for providing
high local heat transfer coefficients between a fluid and a
heated body surface. Thermal effects are also known to de-
stabilize stagnation point flows,1 while magnetic effects are
to increase their stability.2 Examination of the relevant litera-
ture reveals that the majority of the available information is
on the classical two-dimensional Hiemenz,3 three-
dimensional Homann4 stagnation point flows, which describe
the motion of fluids impinging normally onto a flat plate or
disk, respectively, and their extensions.5–7
Hiemenz’s flow is known to be linearly stable since the
work by Wilson and Gladwell,8 who argued that the distur-
bances must decay exponentially far upstream. Lyell and
Huerre9 showed that the solution calculated by Wilson and
Gladwell8 constitutes the least damped mode of an infinite
number of stable modes, and found that the linearly stable
flow can be destabilized by disturbances of a sufficiently
high level. Nonlinear instability of Hiemenz flow was also
found by Kerr and Odd,10 who, moreover, gave a new class
of steady solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations, consisting
in a periodic array of counter-rotating vortices with the axes
aligned with the streamwise direction. Nonlinearity is in fact
one of the multiple mechanisms which may destabilize the
stagnation point flow. For example, the introduction of un-
steadiness into the mean flow is found by Thompson and
a兲
Electronic mail: hamou.sadat@univ-poitiers.fr
and the superposition of a sufficient cross flow in the free
stream are also found by Hall et al.12 to destabilize the stag-
nation point flow. Computations of Chen et al.1 have re-
vealed that thermal excitation generates three-dimensional
disturbances when the Rayleigh number exceeds some criti-
cal value. These findings remain qualitatively unchanged
when obliqueness of the free stream13 is taken into account.
One of the most significant feature of the stability of the
Hiemenz flow is the demonstration by Brattkus and Davis14
that the most unstable eigenmode emerging out of initial dis-
turbances is one that satisfies the Görtler15 and Hammerlin16
assumption according to which linear instabilities inherit the
symmetry of the basic flow, their chordwise velocity compo-
nent being a linear function of the chordwise coordinate
while the wall normal velocity component is independent of
that coordinate. The use of self-similar disturbances is also
justified for description of stability characteristics of the
swept Hiemenz’s flow since the three-dimensional direct
simulation of Spalart,17 which revealed that this special class
of disturbances is also the least stable one. Furthermore, Lin
and Malik18 have explicitly stated that only the Görtler-
Hammerlin assumption allows a separable solution to the
two-dimensional eigenvalue problem. Some issues, like, for
instance, the three-dimensional nature of the linear perturba-
tions in the swept attachement-line boundary layer, remain,
however, beyond the reach of the analysis based on this as-
sumption. In this context, Theofilis et al.19 have developed,
by classifying three-dimensional disturbances by means of
symmetric and antisymmetric polynomials of the chordwise
coordinate, an extended Görtler-Hammerlin model leading to
a set of one-dimensional eigenvalue problems. No such sim-
plification is possible in the Homann problem either as far as

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124101-2 Amaouche, Bouda, and Sadat Phys. Fluids 18, 124101 共2006兲

the radial dependence of the disturbances is concerned, ex-

cept at large distance from the stagnation point.20,21
Another axisymmetric stagnation flow described by an
exact solution of the Navier-Stokes equations is that found
by Wang22 and consisting of a radially inward directed
stream impinging normally onto an infinite circular cylinder.
An extension of this solution is due to Weidmann and
Putkaradze,23 who treated the case of flow stagnating ob-
liquely on the cylinder; the latter is obtained by superposition
of an appropriate axial shear flow onto the irrotational radial
stagnation flow. The corresponding boundary-layer flow is
characterized by two parameters, namely a Reynolds number
accounting for the effect of cylinder curvature and another
parameter measuring the relative strength of the external Poi-
seuille flow to the radial stagnation flow. The major conse-
quence of the free stream obliqueness is the shift of the stag- FIG. 1. Schematic representation of a nonorthogonal stagnation flow on a
nation circle, relative to its orthogonal position, toward the circular cylinder.
incoming stream, which increases with increasing incidence.
Another important discovery of that investigation is that the
ratio of the slope of the dividing streamline at attachment to
v*e = 0, 共2.3兲
the slope of the dividing streamline far from the stagnation
circle is independent of the free stream incidence, as in the
where the index “e” refers to external flow, k* is an arbitrary
planar case. Nevertheless, it appears that no stability analyses
constant velocity, and ␥ indicates a measure of the relative
exist for the problem. It is the purpose of this paper to ex-
strength of the two components of the external flow. Note
plore the effects of the rotation and curvature of the cylinder
that 共i兲 ␥ provides, as it does in the planar case, a continuous
along with the obliqueness of the far stream on the basic flow
variation from pure radial stagnation flow at ␥ = 0 to pure
and then to determine the conditions under which linearly
axial shear flow as ␥ → ⬁, 共ii兲 in fact the general
unstable disturbances are generated in the flow.
z-independent axial shear flow, which is driven by a constant
In Sec. II, governing equations along with the basic flow
axial pressure gradient, satisfying the no-slip boundary con-
are first introduced, taking into account the rotation of the
ditions at r* = a* is ws* = k*␥共r*2 / a*2 − 1兲 + ␣ log r* / a*, where ␣
cylinder. After that, an eigenvalue problem is formulated us-
is another arbitrary constant. However, as was noticed by
ing Görtler-Hammerlin modes for the disturbances. The nu-
Weidmann and Putkaradze,23 the logarithmic part of ws* is
merical procedure, based upon a pseudospectral Laguerre
not a viable outer flow in the sense that it does not satisfy the
polynomials, is described in Sec. III. The results are pre-
Euler equations. This explains why this term is not included
sented in Sec. IV and concluding remarks are furnished in
in Eq. 共2.2兲. The pressure field associated with the external
Sec. V.
flow 共2.1兲–共2.3兲 is

II. FORMULATION p*e 共r*,z*兲 = − ␳* 冉 1 *2 *2 z*2

2 a
冊 ␮ *k *
ue + k *2 + 4␥ *2 z* + const.
a
A. Governing equations and basic state 共2.4兲
A circular cylinder of radius a 共asterisks indicate di-
*

mensional quantities and dimensionless variables will be
asterisk-free兲 rotates at constant angular velocity ␻* in an
external oblique flow. We use a cylindrical coordinate system
that is fixed in space with r* the radial coordinate, ␪ the angle
of azimuth, and z* the axial coordinate 共see Fig. 1兲. Let u*,
v*, and w* indicate radial, azimuthal, and axial velocity com-
ponent, respectively. The outer oblique stagnation flow we
are concerned with results in the superposition of an axial
shear flow and irrotational radial stagnation flow, viz.,
Prior to studying the influence of disturbances on the dy-
namic behavior of a flow field, it is customary to give ad-
equate knowledge of the undisturbed basic state by means of
the method of matched asymptotic expansion. The fluid mo-
tion is then divided into the previous outer flow and a vis-
cous region adjacent to the surface cylinder where additional
vorticity is generated in response to the no-slip boundary
condition. The intrinsic length scale for the problem at hand
is naturally the radius of the cylinder. The velocity is referred
to the constant k* weighting the potential component of the

冉 冊
free stream. Hence, introducing the set of scales, a*, k*,
k* a* r* a* / k*, and ␳*k*2 共␳* indicates the mass density of the fluid兲
u*e = − , 共2.1兲
2 r* a* for length, velocity, time, and pressure, the governing equa-
tions may be written in dimensionless variables as follows:

w*e =
k* * *␥ r*2
a*
z +k
a*2
冉−1 , 冊 共2.2兲
⳵
⳵r
共ru兲 +
⳵v ⳵
+ 共rw兲 = 0,
⳵␪ ⳵z
共2.5兲

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124101-3 Linear stability of a nonorthogonal axisymmetric stagnation flow Phys. Fluids 18, 124101 共2006兲

Du v2
Dt
− =−
r
⳵p 1
+
⳵r 4R r
u 2 ⳵v
ⵜ 2u − 2 − 2 冉
r ⳵␪
, 冊 共2.6兲
obtain the three-dimensional component of the basic flow in
the form

冕 冉冕 冊
冢 冣
␰

冉 冊
x
f共y兲
Dv uv 1 ⳵p 1 v 2 ⳵u exp R dy dx
+ =− + ⵜ 2v − 2 + 2 , 共2.7兲 y

r ⳵␪ 4R
Dt r r r ⳵␪
Dw ⳵p 1 2
=− + ⵜ w,
Dt ⳵z 4R
where D / Dt ⬅ ⳵ / ⳵t + u⳵ / ⳵r + v / r⳵ / ⳵␪ + w⳵ / ⳵z and ⵜ2
⬅ ⳵2 / ⳵r2 + 1 / r⳵ / ⳵r + 1 / r2⳵2 / ⳵␪2 + ⳵2 / ⳵z2. The relevant bound-
ary conditions are
u = v − ⍀ = w = 0, r = 1,
u − ue = v = w − we = 0, r → ⬁.
The first set represents the no-slip condition on the cylinder
surface and the second set represents the behavior of the
velocity field at the frontier of the boundary layer. Besides
the parameter ␥ introduced previously, we note the appear-
ance of the Reynolds number R = ␳*k*a* / 4␮*, with ␮* being
the dynamic viscosity, and the rotation number ⍀ = ␻*a* / k*.
A basic three-dimensional solution to Eqs. 共2.5兲–共2.9兲 is
easily found by exploiting the underlying linearity, with re-
spect to the chordwise coordinate, of the outer velocity field.
Hence, setting ␰ = r2 and following the analysis of Weidmann
and Putkaradze,23 the basic solution is sought of the form
1 Substitution of this sum into the set of governing equations
ub共␰兲 = − ␰−1/2 f共␰兲,
2 共2.5兲–共2.9兲, and subtracting out the base flow equation, yield
wb共␰,z兲 = zf ⬘共␰兲 + ␥g共␰兲,
vb共␰兲 = ⍀␰−1/2h共␰兲,
where the prime will hereafter denote differentiation with
respect to ␰. Thus, the continuity equation is identically sat-
isfied. Inserting 共2.10兲–共2.12兲 into 共2.7兲–共2.9兲 yields the fol-
lowing set of ordinary differential equations:
共␰ f ⬙兲⬘ + R共f f ⬙ − f ⬘2 + 1兲 = 0,
共␰g⬘兲⬘ + R共fg⬘ − f ⬘g兲 − 1 = 0,
␰h⬙ + Rfh⬘ = 0
subject to the boundary conditions
f共1兲 = f ⬘共1兲 = g共1兲 = h共1兲 − 1 = 0,
f ⬘共⬁兲 − 1 = g⬘共⬁兲 − 1 = h共⬁兲 = 0.
Equation 共2.6兲 is finally used to determine the pressure dis-
tribution in the boundary layer. We observe that the pertinent
component of the basic stagnation flow is induced only by
the radial part of the outer stream. The other ones 共e.g., those
induced by the cylinder rotation and by the parallel compo-
nent of the outer stream兲 are fully enslaved to that compo-
nent. Once the two first equations are numerically solved,
two successive integrations of the last equation allow us to
冕 冉冕 冊
1
1
v b共 ␰ 兲 = ⍀ ␰ −1/2
1− . 共2.17兲
⬁ x
f共y兲
exp R dy dx
1 1 y
共2.8兲
The above normalization is especially suitable for the case in
which the flow dynamics is dominated by the far-stream
rather than the cylinder rotation effects; ⍀ is then less than
unity. Otherwise, i.e., when ⍀ is larger than unity, the proper
velocity scale must be that of the surface cylinder instead of
the constant k*. Taking the former as the reference velocity
allows direct exploitation of all the previous nondimensional
共2.9兲 quantities with straightforward modification. Hence, for re-
gimes forced by the cylinder rotation, one must read h and
f / ⍀ in place of ⍀h and f, respectively. Accordingly, the
Reynolds number would be R⍀ instead of R.
B. Small disturbance equations
To develop the disturbance equations, it is customary to
search for the state variable ␸ˆ ⬅ 共û , v̂ , ŵ , p̂兲t as a sum of its
basic component ␸b and a small perturbation quantity ␸ p,
viz.,
␸ˆ 共r, ␪,z,t兲 = ␸b共r,z兲 + ␸ p共r, ␪,z,t兲. 共2.18兲
共2.10兲
the system of disturbance equations to be solved subject to
共2.11兲 homogeneous boundary conditions. After linearization, we
found that these equations have coefficients independent of ␪
共2.12兲 and t. Hence, the disturbances are separable in ␪ and t and
therefore can be decomposed into a normal mode form.
Since they are 2␲-periodic in ␪, the disturbances may be
assumed to be of the form
␸ p共r, ␪,z,t兲 = ⌽ p共r,z兲exp共in␪ + ␴t兲 + c.c., 共2.19兲
共2.13兲 where c.c. indicates complex conjugate, n is the integer azi-
muthal wave number, and ⌽ p is a complex amplitude func-
共2.14兲 tion of three-dimensional disturbances. So, the linear stabil-
ity analysis consists in determining the complex
共2.15兲 amplification rate ␴ of the Fourier modes that the system
supports. The ␴ spectrum determines whether the basic equi-
librium state is stable or not. The real values of ␴ lead to
monotonic behavior of perturbations in time; the complex
ones trigger oscillatory decay or growth of disturbances. As
共2.16兲 for the two-dimensional Hiemenz flow, the interesting fea-
ture of the problem at hand is that it can be further simplified
by choosing an adequate form, namely the Görtler-
Hammerlin structure, for the disturbance amplitude. This is
made possible owing to the linear dependence of the axial
component of the basic velocity field with respect to the
axial coordinate. According to the Görtler-Hammerlin as-
sumption, the disturbance amplitude inherits the base flow
linear dependence with respect to the axial coordinate. Re-
taining that property, viz., writing ⌽ p in the form

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124101-4 Amaouche, Bouda, and Sadat Phys. Fluids 18, 124101 共2006兲

⌽p = 冠 1 −1/2
2
␰ u共␰兲, ␰1/2v共␰兲,zw1共␰兲 + ␥w2共␰兲,p共␰兲 冡 t stream obliqueness. It appears from 共2.28兲 that the only rel-
evant velocity component of the disturbance is the radial one
in the case n = 0 corresponding to the axisymmetric mode.
共2.20兲 The instability threshold for this kind of disturbances, if it
allows us to obtain a one-dimensional eigenvalue problem. exists, would therefore be not dependent on the rotation rate
Indeed, letting D ⬅ d / d␰, the incompressibility constraint ⍀ since the latter does not intervene in Eq. 共2.28兲. In order
yields that a nontrivial solution to the system 共2.24兲 and 共2.28兲
subject to homogeneous boundary conditions exists, the ma-
w1 + Du + inv = 0. 共2.21兲 trix operator
The azimuthal momentum equation gives the pressure ampli-
tude in the form M⬅ 冉 L2 L1
L3D + f ⬙ inL3
−␴冊 冉
− n − 4i␰共1 + ␰D兲
D in
冊
np共␰兲 = 共L + i␴␰兲v + Hu, 共2.22兲 共2.29兲
where we have put

再冉 冎
must be singular. So, the problem amounts to solving an

L=−i
1 2 2
R
␰ D + 2␰D −
n
4
2
冊 + f共␰D + 1兲 − n⍀h,
implicit dispersion relation between the parameters,
⌬共n , ␴ , R , ⍀兲 = 0, obtained by annulling the determinant of
the matrix associated with some discrete version of the dif-
ferential operator M.
n
H = i⍀h⬘ + . 共2.23兲
4R␰
III. NUMERICAL PROCEDURE
Inserting 共2.22兲 in the radial momentum equation gives
To obtain a discrete version of the eigenvalue system M,
L1v + L2u = − ␴关nu + 4i␰共1 + ␰D兲v兴 共2.24兲 共u , v兲t = 0, an approximate ␺K = 共uK , vK兲t, K being the spectral
order, to the original solution 共u , v兲t may be written as a
with
truncated series of appropriate basis functions. Then using
n2 the method of weighted residuals, we are led to a generalized
L1 = 4␰共LD + DL兲 + i − 4n⍀h, matrix eigenvalue problem of the form Ax = ␴Bx. Depending
R

再冉 冉 冊冎
on the choice of basis and test functions, different discreti-

L2 = 4␰共HD + H⬘兲 − n
1
R
␰D2 −
n2
4␰
冊
+ fD + f ⬘ −
f
␰
zation schemes may be obtained. For our purpose, we have
used a collocation method associated with Laguerre’s poly-
nomials LK共␩兲 with ␩ = ␰ − 1. Collocation nodes are selected
h to be the zeroes ␩共K兲 k of LK共␩兲, k = 1 , . . . , K.
+ in2⍀ . 共2.25兲
␰ Despite a high value of the Lebesgue constant associated
with the set ␩k, accurate results may be obtained for the
Now, using the axial momentum equation, we obtain the re- approximations of functions possessing a relatively simple
maining equations for w1 and w2, asymptotic behavior at infinity.24 For that reason, the La-
L 3w 1 − f ⬙u = ␴ w 1 , 共2.26兲 guerre’s polynomials are multiplied by a weighting function
e−␩. This is in conformity with the assumption of Wilson and
共L3 + f ⬘兲w2 = gw1 + g⬘u + ␴w2 . 共2.27兲
Solving 共2.21兲 for w1 and substituting the result in 共2.26兲
gives
共L3D + f ⬙兲u + inL3v = ␴共Du + inv兲, 共2.28兲
where L3 stands for the operator 1 / R共␰D2 + D − n2 / 4␰兲 + fD
− 2f ⬘ − in⍀h / ␰ Finally, we have obtained an eigenvalue prob-
lem by means of Eqs. 共2.24兲 and 共2.28兲 in terms of eigen-
functions u and v. It is worth noting that the functions v and
w1 are quite equivalent, in the sense that the eigenvalue prob-
lem could, in the same way, be formulated in terms of u and
w1. Again, we observe that the obliqueness of the free stream
does not enter the definition of the eigenvalue problem. As a
consequence, the free stream obliqueness does not take a part
in determining the linear stability threshold of the base flow;
however, we observe from 共2.27兲 that it participates to the
calculation of the component w2 via the function g and there-
fore influences the secondary flow. Note again that w2 is
fully enslaved to the pertinent eigenfunctions u and w1, FIG. 2. Typical convergence test in terms of the absolute value of the error
which is a consequence of the passive role played by the free in the critical Reynolds number versus the spectral order K.

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124101-5 Linear stability of a nonorthogonal axisymmetric stagnation flow
FIG. 3. Basic flow profiles 共a兲 f ⬘, 共b兲 g, 共c兲 h against ␰ for different values of R, 共d兲 variations of wall shear stress parameters with R.
Gladwell8 according to which the disturbance quantities must
decay exponentially far upstream. Moreover, we observe that
because the set of ␩k accumulates in the region close to ␩0
= 0 as K → ⬁, it is quite appropriate to describe flows in
regions where high gradients occur. Hence, requiring for ␺K
an exponential decay at infinity and setting ␺K共␩兲
= e−␩⌫K共␩兲 with ⌫K共␩兲 being a polynomial of degree at most
K, the problem amounts to determining the unknown coeffi-
cients ⌫K共␩k兲 by forcing the residual to be zero at collocation
modes. For this calculation, the basic tool is the derivative
operator DK in the space of polynomials of degree K 共see
Appendix B兲. Hence, as pointed out at the beginning of this
section, we end up with the matrices A and B corresponding
to our discrete eigenvalue system.
IV. RESULTS
A. Numerical tests
Calculations were performed for the following values of
parameters: 0 艋 R 艋 250 and 0 艋 ⍀ 艋 1. A search for the most
unstable mode has required the calculation of the Reynolds
numbers for the axisymmetric mode and the first five asym-
metric modes 共n = 0 , 1 , ..5兲. The higher modes are of little
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Phys. Fluids 18, 124101 共2006兲
practical interest since they decay more quickly in time at
criticality than the first ones. In order to achieve a satisfac-
tory convergence, checks on the influence of the spectral
order K were performed in terms of its effects on the location
of the critical Reynolds number. This showed that the accu-
racy of the numerical scheme can be improved by increasing
the spectral order of the approximation that leads to the in-
crease of the number of collocation nodes in the boundary
layer. However, higher accuracy is achieved at the expense
of a significant increase in computational time. At least three
decimal-point accuracy has been required in all of the nu-
merical experiments. This accuracy is achieved by succes-
sively increasing K; convergence is assumed to be reached
when further increase in K yields no further improvement in
accuracy. A typical convergence test is displayed in Fig. 2
where the absolute value of the error 共⌬Rc兲 in the critical
Reynolds number is plotted versus the number of polynomi-
als for various ⍀. One can see the following. 共i兲 The number
of required polynomials increases by increasing ⍀. This is in
accordance with the fact that an increase in ⍀ reduces the
boundary layer thickness; which therefore requires a greater
number of terms in order to avoid spurious nodes and pre-
serve the prescribed accuracy. 共ii兲 Values of ⍀ less than
124101-6 Amaouche, Bouda, and Sadat Phys. Fluids 18, 124101 共2006兲

FIG. 4. 共a兲 Dependence of the real and imaginary 共in the inset兲 parts of the first two modes for the first harmonic 共n = 1兲 on the Reynolds number, 共b兲 enlarged
Fig. 4共a兲 for small R.

about 1 required only up to 500 terms while greater values C. Linear stability results
required much more than 500 terms. Convergence then oc- One of the main features of the numerical experiments is
curs only after excessively long computational time. It is for that, unlike the case of Hiemenz flow, both real 共␴i = 0兲 and
this reason that the study is limited to the range 0 艋 ⍀ 艋 1.
complex 共␴i ⫽ 0兲 values of ␴ were found in the range of
Similar difficulties are encountered when considering large
parameters under consideration. In other words, the problem
Reynolds numbers. Hence, a systematic exploration for the
is not self-adjoint as it is the case in Hiemenz flow 共see
Reynolds number beyond the range of consideration remains
Appendix B兲. Another important thing to note related to left-
to be done.
right symmetry in the absence of rotation is that if ␴ is an
eigenvalue corresponding to eigenvector 共u , v兲, ¯␴ is an ei-
B. Basic flow
genvalue corresponding to eigenvector 共u , −v兲. This can be
The basic flow profiles are illustrated through Figs. shown by taking the complex conjugate of the eigenvalue
3共a兲–3共c兲, where the computed values of f ⬘, g, and h are problem at hand. Real and complex eigenvalues correspond
plotted versus the radial coordinate ␰, for some significant to, respectively, monotonic and oscillating modes. The basic
values of R. One can see that steep gradients mainly occur state is unstable if there exists at least one mode with a
next to the wall; they decrease as the outer edge of the positive growth rate; otherwise it is stable. Thus the stability
boundary layer is approached. This phenomenon is more boundary is determined to be that locus of points in 共R , ⍀ , n兲
pronounced by increasing the Reynolds number, which is space where ␴r = 0. Results showing temporal growth rates of
here a measure of the important physical effects of curvature.
This suggests that an increase in the value of R makes the
relative boundary layer thinner in some sense. We observe
again that the profiles f ⬘, g, and h are more sensitive to the
variations of R for smaller values of this parameter. Accord-
ingly, the stability of the main flow is expected to be particu-
larly sensitive to changes in R. The influence of curvature is
also shown in Fig. 3共d兲, where the variations are depicted of
the wall shear stress parameters f ⬙共1兲, g⬘共1兲, and h⬘共1兲 with
R. For infinitely large R, the asymptotic analysis performed
by Weidmann and Putkaradze23 showed that the boundary
layer thickness asymptotes that of Hiemenz flow. In that
limit, these authors found the behaviors f ⬙共1兲 ⬇ 1.23259R1/2
+ 0.27331, g⬘共1兲 ⬇ 0.60795+ 1.04573R−1/2, which, after a
suitable rescaling, allows us to recover the well known cor-
responding results of a planar stagnation flow. FIG. 5. As Fig. 4共a兲 but for n = 2.

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124101-7 Linear stability of a nonorthogonal axisymmetric stagnation flow Phys. Fluids 18, 124101 共2006兲

FIG. 6. As Fig. 4共a兲 but for n = 0, 共a兲 variations for relatively small values of R, 共b兲 range of high growth rate, 共c兲 variations near criticality.

the most dangerous modes versus the Reynolds number are
plotted in Figs. 4–8 in the case of a fixed cylinder. From Fig.
4共a兲, it appears that the first harmonic 共n = 1兲 is the most
unstable one, it is destabilized at the critical value Rc
= 87.771 of the Reynolds number. For R less than about the
value R1 = 73.799, the two first eigenvalues marked 共1兲 and
共2兲 are real; they coalesce at R = R1 and then form a complex
conjugate pair for R greater than R1. The absolute value of
the corresponding imaginary part is shown in the inset of
Fig. 4共a兲; at criticality, its value 兩␴ic兩 is about 0.472. In order
to avoid a scaling problem, the plot is extended to small R in
Fig. 4共b兲. As a consequence, neutral stability corresponds to
asymmetric and oscillatory behavior, since the oscillating
frequency exhibits, as was already mentioned, both signs,
which is to say that the wave-like disturbance propagates
from left to right as well as in the opposite sense. While the
first harmonic 共n = 1兲 is always excited provided that the
Reynolds number is less than its critical value, the behaviors
of the second harmonic 共n = 2兲 and of axisymmetric distur-
bances 共n = 0兲 are somewhat different. Indeed, we observe in
Fig. 5 the existence of only a narrow band of R, between
approximately 2 and 4, where the wave-mode n = 2 is excited
while it is damped outside that region. For this mode, the
first two eigenvalues are real and coalesce at about R = 6. The
axisymmetric disturbance may be unstable to more than one
mode for small values of R while it becomes unstable to only
one mode for R between R1 = 1.1213 and R2 = 3.9756. These

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124101-8 Amaouche, Bouda, and Sadat
FIG. 7. As Fig. 4共a兲 but for n = 3.
possibilities are displayed in Figs. 6共a兲–6共c兲, where the
growth rate of the modes in competition is plotted against the
Reynolds number. The mode marked 共1兲 in Fig. 6共a兲 corre-
sponds to a pair of complex eigenvalues which coalesce at R
slightly above R1. A further increase in R leads to the modes
共2兲 and 共3兲 corresponding to real eigenvalues. Modes 共4兲 and
共5兲 also correspond to real eigenvalues; they coalesce at
some particular values of R, then giving rise to the modes 共6兲
and 共7兲, each corresponding to a pair of complex conjugate
eigenvalues. Figures 6共b兲 and 6共c兲 show the effect of increas-
ing R on the growth rate of the mode 共2兲, respectively, before
and in the vicinity of the critical value of R where it changes
sign. The three following azimuthal modes are damped for
all Reynolds numbers in the range of consideration 共see Figs.
7 and 8兲. For the third harmonic 共n = 3兲, the first two modes
correspond to real eigenvalues. So are they for the following
two harmonics 共n = 4 and 5兲 only when R is small enough;
otherwise, the eigenvalues are complex conjugate. Since the
velocity field may be written as a superposition of all Fourier
components, these results clearly demonstrate the stability of
the basic equilibrium state for sufficiently large Reynolds
numbers, thus recovering the well known stability of the Hi-
emenz flow by taking the limit R → ⬁. Instability occurs for
sufficiently small Reynolds numbers. The stable or unstable
character of the basic motion then results in the competition
between the action of the free stream strain rate and that of
viscosity in the presence of finite natural length scale. As in
parallel shear flow, the viscosity then manifests itself as a
relevant factor contributing to instability. The physical origin
of this viscous instability seems to be directly related to the
FIG. 8. As Fig. 4共a兲 but for n = 4 and 5.
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Phys. Fluids 18, 124101 共2006兲
importance of the boundary layer thickness. Indeed, as sug-
gested by Wilson and Gladwell,8 the destabilizing forces are
confined to the region of appreciable mainstream vorticity,
namely the boundary layer. Therefore, the instability can
originate only in that region due to the energy exchange be-
tween the basic flow and the disturbance. It is only the dis-
turbance vorticity of larger than some critical intensity,
which can be amplified and therefore can induce substantial
destabilizing effects. That is possible only if the boundary
layer thickness is sufficiently large, i.e., exceeds some criti-
cal value. Attention is now given to the perturbed flow field
associated with the mean flow under consideration, at criti-
cality. The predicted radial dependence of the real and imagi-
nary parts of the disturbance velocity amplitude correspond-
ing to the first harmonic is shown in Figs. 9共a兲–9共d兲. It can
be seen that these eigenfunctions are confined mainly within
the boundary layer of the primary flow. Except for the imagi-
nary parts of w1 and u 关Figs. 9共b兲 and 9共d兲兴 that are relatively
smooth, their real parts 关Figs. 9共a兲 and 9共c兲兴 exhibit oscillat-
ing behaviors; a greater number of modes was therefore re-
quired for their representation. In addition, while the real part
of the axial component exhibits significative oscillations only
in a relatively small size region next to the wall and remains
single-signed far enough from the wall, the radial one oscil-
lates along the whole boundary layer; their behaviors near
the wall are magnified in the insets of Figs. 9共a兲 and 9共c兲.
Figures 10 and 11 show the velocity amplitudes 共they are
real since the corresponding eigenvalues are real at critical-
ity兲 of the zeroth and the second harmonics, which are the
least stable modes at criticality. As with the previous profiles,
these two modes are relatively smooth and show similar gen-
eral behaviors and are of comparable magnitude.
D. Influence of cylinder rotation
Finally, we consider the influence of the cylinder rota-
tion. We first notice that the instability of the reference state
to axisymmetric disturbances occurs regardless of the rota-
tion rate given that the eigenvalue problem for n = 0 no
longer depends on this parameter. The calculations have re-
vealed that for ⍀ less than unity, the unstable modes are
those found for the case of a fixed cylinder, with same pre-
ferred mode number, namely n = 1. The influence of varying
⍀ on the growth rate of the most dangerous mode is shown
in Fig. 12, near criticality. One can see that for a given value
of R, the growth rate of the most unstable mode is increased
by increasing ⍀, whereas it is increased by decreasing R for
a fixed value of ⍀. This means that, in the parameter range
under consideration, centrifugal effects as well as curvature
ones act to destabilize the base flow. In order to better quan-
tify the role of rotation on the stability threshold, we display
in Fig. 13 the variations with ⍀ of critical Reynolds number
that marks the onset of the fastest growing instability. While
the flow is linearly stable in the upper region bounded below
by the marginal stability curve, it is unstable in the lower
one. Figure 14 shows the critical oscillating frequencies as
increasing functions of ⍀; they correspond to the two most
unstable modes that become simultaneously marginal at criti-
cality. As it may be expected, owing to the asymmetry
124101-9 Linear stability of a nonorthogonal axisymmetric stagnation flow Phys. Fluids 18, 124101 共2006兲

FIG. 9. Amplitude profiles of velocity disturbances at criticality for the first harmonic in the case of fixed cylinder: real 共a兲 and imaginary 共b兲 parts of axial
velocity component; real 共c兲 and imaginary 共d兲 parts of radial velocity component.

caused by the rotation, these two frequencies have opposite V. SUMMARY

signs, indicating that the neutral disturbances propagate in
the sense of rotation as well as in the opposite sense. Most
importantly, we notice that, in view of the destabilizing ef-
fects of rotation, the eigenfunctions displayed in Fig. 15 for
the first harmonic in the case ⍀ = 1 have similar global
shapes but are of greater magnitude than those without rota-
tion.
The onset of three-dimensional instability in an axisym-
metric stagnation flow obliquely impinging on a circular cyl-
inder has been investigated by means of a collocation
method using Laguerre’s polynomials. First of all, it is
shown that the obliqueness of the free stream plays no part in
determining the stability threshold of the primary flow. An

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124101-10 Amaouche, Bouda, and Sadat Phys. Fluids 18, 124101 共2006兲

FIG. 10. As Fig. 9 but for the zeroth harmonic: radial 共a兲 and axial 共b兲
components.

important result is the existence of a critical Reynolds num-

ber, depending on the rotation rate of the cylinder, under
which the reference flow loses its stability through Hopf bi-
furcation indicating the emergence of an oscillatory second- FIG. 11. As Fig. 10 but for the second harmonic.
ary flow. It is worth noting that like the symmetric case, the
critical wave-like disturbances propagate in the sense of ro-
tation as well as against it, but with distinct phase velocities,
␩ L K共 ␩ 兲
when the cylinder rotates. For sufficiently high Reynolds G k共 ␩ 兲 = , k ⫽ 0. 共A3兲
number, the primary flow is found to be stable, which is quite dLK
␩ k共 ␩ − ␩ k兲 共 ␩ k兲
in accordance with the results known about the stability of d␩
Hiemenz flow. It is also shown that curvature and rotation
are quite similar in their effects; they couple in a cooperative Differentiating 共A1兲 n times 共n = 1 , 2 , 3 , 4兲 with respect to ␩
way to destabilize the reference state. 关the fourth-order derivative appears when using 共u , w1兲 to
formulate the eigenvalue problem兴, making use of 共A2兲 and
共A3兲, and setting ␩ = ␩k, yield
APPENDIX A K

With the aim of getting the entries 共1兲

dmn , m, n = 0 , . . . . , K
DKn⌫K共␩k兲 = 兺
m=1
共n兲
dkm ⌫k共␩m兲. 共A4兲

of DK, we write ⌫K共␩兲 in the form

Taking into account the homogeneous boundary conditions
K
for Du at ␩0 = 0, one gets the entries
⌫K共␩兲 = 兺 Gk共␩兲⌫K共␩k兲, 共A1兲
k=1 K
共2兲
dkn = 兺 d共1兲 共1兲
kl dln with ␧ = 1 if DK2 acts on u and
where Gk共␩兲 are Lagrange polynomials with respect to the l=␧
nodes ␩k, k = 0 , . . . , K,
G0共␩兲 = LK共␩兲, 共A2兲 ␧ = 0 otherwise,

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124101-11 Linear stability of a nonorthogonal axisymmetric stagnation flow Phys. Fluids 18, 124101 共2006兲

FIG. 12. Growth rate of the most dangerous mode as function of R, near
FIG. 13. Variation of the critical Reynolds number with the rotation rate.
criticality for various ⍀.

共3兲
dkn =
K

兺 共1兲 共1兲 共1兲

dkm dml dln and
冕 0
⬁
共L3D + f ⬙兲uDūdy ⫽ 冕
0
⬁
共L3D + f ⬙兲ūDudy.
l=1,m=0
Consider now the more general case in which n ⫽ 0. Writing
K 共2.24兲 and 共2.28兲 in the matrix form
共4兲
dkn = 兺
l=1,p=0,m=0
共1兲 共1兲 共1兲 共1兲
dkm dmpd pl dln , A . U = ␴B . U 共B1兲
with U = 共u , v兲t and defining the inner product 具f , g典
where
= 兰⬁0 fḡdy, one obtains
共1兲 共1兲
d00 = − K, dk0 = − K/␩kLK−1共␩k兲, 具AU,U典
␴= . 共B2兲
共1兲
具BU,U典
d0k = 1/K␩kLK−1共␩k兲 for k ⫽ 0,
Taking the complex conjugate of 共B1兲 yields
共1兲
dkn = LK−1共␩k兲/共␩k − ␩n兲LK−1共␩n兲 for k ⫽ n ⫽ 0 and Ā . Ū = ¯␴B̄ . Ū,
共1兲
dnn = 共1 + ␩n兲/2␩n for n ⫽ 0. which gives

Let M1 and M2 define KxK square matrices whose entries are

共1兲 共1兲 共1兲
dk0 d0n and dkn , k , n = 1 , . . . , K, respectively. The previous re-
lations signify the following:
共i兲 The matrix M2 is associated with the operator DK.
共ii兲 The matrices associated with DK2 are either M22 or
M22 + M1 according to whether DK2 acts on u.
共iii兲 共M22 + M1兲M2 and 共d00I + M2兲M1M2 + 共M22 + M1兲M22
represent DK3 and DK4 , respectively.

APPENDIX B

We first note that by setting n = 0 in 共2.24兲 and 共2.28兲, we

are led to the simplified eigenvalue problem
共L3D + f ⬙兲u = ␴Du

which no longer depends on ⍀. This equation is not self- FIG. 14. Variations of the critical oscillating frequencies with the rotation
adjoint because rate.

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124101-12 Amaouche, Bouda, and Sadat Phys. Fluids 18, 124101 共2006兲

FIG. 15. As Fig. 9 but for ⍀ = 1.

具ĀŪ,Ū典
¯␴ = . 共B3兲
具B̄Ū,Ū典
Developing the right-hand sides of 共B2兲 and 共B3兲 leads to
␴ ⫽ ¯␴.
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