Secondary Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in weakly stratified shear flow

Citeable URL: https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/dz010w082

Descriptions

Attribute Name	Values
Creator	Smyth, William D.
Abstract	The growth of secondary vortices on the braids separating Kelvin–Helmholtz billows is investigated via numerical simulations. The similarity theory of Corcos & Sherman (1976) is extended to include mixing processes with Prandtl number greater than unity, and is shown to provide a useful description of the physics of the braid regions just prior to the onset of secondary instability. The numerical study of Staquet (1995) is extended to include a wider range of Prandtl numbers and bulk Richardson numbers. Length and time scales of the secondary instability are compared with predictions based on normal-mode stability analysis of the braids. The onset of instability is shown to be accompanied by a dramatic increase in mixing efficiency in the braid region, emphasizing the potential importance of preturbulent Kelvin–Helmholtz billows for mixing stratified fluids.
Resource Type	Article
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022112003006591
Date Available	2010-09-30T20:41:24+00:00
Date Issued	2003
Citation	Smyth, W. D. (2003). Secondary Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in weakly stratified shear flow. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 401, 67-98.
Journal Title	Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Journal Volume	497
Rights Statement	In Copyright
Funding Statement (additional comments about funding)	National Science Foundation grant OCE0095640.
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Language	English [eng]
Replaces	http://hdl.handle.net/1957/18617