The effect of non-linear interaction between gas and particle velocities on the hydrodynamic stability in the Blasius boundary layer

A weakly non-linear stability analysis of two phase flow in the Blasius boundary layer has been carried out. Two mathematical models have been established based on the perturbation shape preserved assumption and linear stability model of two phase flow proposed by Stuart [On the non-linear mechanics of hydrodynamic stability, J. Fluid Mech. 4 (1958) 1–21] and Saffman [On the stability of laminar flow of dusty gas, J. Fluid Mech. 13 (1962) 120–128], respectively. The perturbation model and the perturbation energy balance equation are solved numerically with Chebyshev spectral method and artificial boundary condition. The numerical program adopted in the present study is verified by comparison with former works. The results show that the non-linear interaction between mean flow and perturbation reduces the growth rate of perturbation, while the non-linear interaction between particle phase and gas phase increases the growth rate of perturbation amplitude. The distortion of the mean flow caused by the Reynolds stress modifies the rate of transfer of energy from the mean flow to disturbance. The existence of particle alleviates the distortedness. The result also indicates that the weakly non-linear stability theory is consistent to linear stability theory, and the addition of fine and coarse particles reduces and increases the critical Reynolds number.