Elastically driven Kelvin–Helmholtz-like instability in straight channel flow

Originally, Kelvin–Helmholtz instability (KHI) describes the growth of perturbations at the interface separating counterpropagating streams of Newtonian fluids of different densities with heavier fluid at the bottom. Generalized KHI is also used to describe instability of free shear layers with continuous variations of velocity and density. KHI is one of the most studied shear flow instabilities. It is widespread in nature in laminar as well as turbulent flows and acts on different spatial scales from galactic down to Saturn’s bands, oceanographic and meteorological flows, and down to laboratory and industrial scales. Here, we report the observation of elastically driven KH-like instability in straight viscoelastic channel flow, observed in elastic turbulence (ET). The present findings contradict the established opinion that interface perturbations are stable at negligible inertia. The flow reveals weakly unstable coherent structures (CSs) of velocity fluctuations, namely, streaks self-organized into a self-sustained cycling process of CSs, which is synchronized by accompanied elastic waves. During each cycle in ET, counter propagating streaks are destroyed by the elastic KH-like instability. Its dynamics remarkably recall Newtonian KHI, but despite the similarity, the instability mechanism is distinctly different. Velocity difference across the perturbed streak interface destabilizes the flow, and curvature at interface perturbation generates stabilizing hoop stress. The latter is the main stabilizing factor overcoming the destabilization by velocity difference. The suggested destabilizing mechanism is the interaction of elastic waves with wall-normal vorticity leading to interface perturbation amplification. Elastic wave energy is drawn from the main flow and pumped into wall-normal vorticity growth, which destroys the streaks.

Electrically driven cylindrical free shear flows under an axial uniform magnetic field

We consider a mathematical model of two-dimensional electrically driven laminar axisymmetric circular free shear flows in a cylindrical vessel under the action of an applied axial uniform magnetic field. The mathematical approach is based on the studies by J.C.R. Hunt and W.E. Williams (J. Fluid. Mech., 31, 705, 1968). We solve a system of stationary partial differential equations with two unknown functions of velocity and induced magnetic field. The flows are generated as a result of the interaction of the electric current injected into the liquid and the applied field using one or two pairs of concentric annular electrodes located apart on the end walls. Two lateral free shear layers and two Hartmann layers on the end walls and a quasi-potential flow core between them emerge when the Hartmann number Ha >> 1. As a result, almost all injected current passes through these layers. Depending on the direction of the current injection, coinciding or two counter flows between the end walls are realized. The Hartmann number varies in a range from 2 to 300. When a moderate magnetic field (Ha = 50) is reached, the flow rate and the induced magnetic field flux cease to depend on the magnitude of the applied field but depend on the injected electric current value. Increasing magnetic field leads only to inner restructuring of the flows. Redistributions of velocities and induced magnetic fields, electric current density versus Hartmann number are analyzed. Figs 18, Refs 21.