Oscillatory Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. Part 1. A viscous theory

Abstract

The stability of oscillatory two-layer flows is investigated with a linear perturbation analysis. An asymptotic case is considered where the oscillation amplitude is small when compared to the perturbation wavelength. The focus of the analysis is on the influence of viscosity and its contrast at the interface. The flows are unstable when the relative velocity of the layers is larger than a critical value. Depending on the oscillation frequency, the flows are in different dynamical regimes, which are characterized by the relative importance of the capillary wavelength and the thicknesses of the Stokes boundary layers developed on the interface. A particular regime is found in which instability occurs at a substantially lower critical velocity. The mechanism behind the instability is studied by identifying the velocity- and shear-induced components in the disturbance growth rate. They interchange dominance depending on the frequency and the viscosity contrast. Results of the analysis are compared with the experiments in the literature. Good agreement is found with the experiments that have a small oscillation amplitude. The validity condition of the asymptotic theory is estimated.