Approximation of pressure perturbations by FEM

Abstract

In the mathematical problem of linear hydrodynamic stability for shear flows against Tollmien-Schlichting perturbations, the continuity equation for the perturbation of the velocity is replaced by a Poisson equation for the pressure perturbation. The resulting eigenvalue problem, an alternative form for the two-point eigenvalue problem for the Orr-Sommerfeld equation, is formulated in a variational form and this one is approximated by finite element method (FEM). Possible applications to concrete cases are revealed.