Paper 4, Section II, B

Fluid Dynamics II | Part II, 2017

A horizontal layer of inviscid fluid of density ρ1\rho_{1} occupying 0<y<h0<y<h flows with velocity (U,0)(U, 0) above a horizontal layer of inviscid fluid of density ρ2>ρ1\rho_{2}>\rho_{1} occupying −h<y<0-h<y<0 and flowing with velocity (−U,0)(-U, 0), in Cartesian coordinates (x,y)(x, y). There are rigid boundaries at y=±hy=\pm h. The interface between the two layers is perturbed to position y=Re⁡(Aeikx+σt)y=\operatorname{Re}\left(A e^{i k x+\sigma t}\right).

Write down the full set of equations and boundary conditions governing this flow. Derive the linearised boundary conditions appropriate in the limit A→0A \rightarrow 0. Solve the linearised equations to show that the perturbation to the interface grows exponentially in time if

U2>ρ22−ρ12ρ1ρ2g4ktanh⁡kh.U^{2}>\frac{\rho_{2}^{2}-\rho_{1}^{2}}{\rho_{1} \rho_{2}} \frac{g}{4 k} \tanh k h .

Sketch the right-hand side of this inequality as a function of kk. Thereby deduce the minimum value of UU that makes the system unstable for all wavelengths.

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