Theory and Computation of Hydrodynamic Stability

The study of hydrodynamic stability is fundamental to many subjects, ranging from geophysics and meteorology through to engineering design. This treatise covers both classical and modern aspects of the subject, systematically developing it from the simplest physical problems, then progressing chapter by chapter to the most complex, considering linear and nonlinear situations, and analysing temporal and spatial stability. The authors examine each problem both analytically and numerically: many chapters end with an appendix outlining relevant numerical techniques. All relevant fluid flows are treated, including those where the fluid may be compressible, or those from geophysics, or those that require salient geometries for description. Details of initial-value problems are explored equally with those of stability. As a result, the early transient period as well as the asymptotic fate for perturbations for a flow can be assessed. The text is enriched with many exercises, copious illustrations and an extensive bibliography and the result is a book that can be used with courses on hydrodynamic stability or as an authoritative reference for researchers.

• Fully up-to-date, covering classical and modern, linear and nonlinear aspects, from both numerical and analytic views
• Systematic presentation, progressing from simple to complicated, with exercises and computer code for each chapter, making book suitable for advanced courses
• All physical problems of note are investigated: confined shear flows; boundary layers; free flow; geophysical flows. Flow control and optimization are exploited.