Stability of divergent channel flows: a numerical approach

Abstract

The stability of the flow of viscous fluid in a divergent straight-walled channel is tackled by a finite difference method applied to the equation of the disturbance stream function. Good agreement is obtained with the work of Eagles & Weissman ( J. Fluid Mech . 69 (2), 241-262 (1975)), which was done by a completely different (modal) approach. The results are also extended to the more realistic curved-wall channels of Eagles & Smith ( J. engng Math . 14 (3), 219–237 (1980)), again with good agreement.