Exercise 1

Investigate stability of a stationary solution Ts (x) wzgl¦dem innitezymalnych zaburze« równania:Investigate

stability with respect to innitesimaly small perturbations (linear stability) of a stationary solution of
the following equation
∂T
= κ4T + αT + q
∂t

on the interval [0, L] for  

∂T  ∂T 
= 0, = 0.
∂x x=0 ∂x x=L

Exercise 2

One-dimensional motion of a material point with the mass M , which is subjected to a potential
force F (x) = − dVdx(x) , is described by the equation

d2 x
M = F (x).
dt2

If the potential is given by V (x) = ax4 + bx2 , where a and b are constants
a) determine the positions of equillibrium,
b) investigate their stability,
c) nd the frequencies of small eigen vibrations (frequencies of eigenmodes) about the
stable equillibria,
d) calculate the growth rates of small perturbations about the unstable equillibria (linear
stability).

Exercise 3

Consider a stationary two-dimensional channel ow along the x-direction (y denotes the channel
transverse direction) between two plates situated at y = −d and y = d of an inviscid uid in the form
 
3y 1
U = U (y)êx , U (y) = A arctan − + B,
d 3

where A and B are constants. Can the stability of the ow be determined by Rayleigh and Fjortoft
theorems? Determine the bounds on the growth rate.

Hints:
1) Use the notes on 2D stability theorems.
2) Growth rate is the imaginary part of the complex phase velocity.

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Exercise 4

Consider an incompressible, inviscid uid lling the entire space. In the region z < 0 the uid motion
is described by the velocity eld U1 = U1 êx , whereas in the region z > 0 by U2 = U2 êx . If the surface
of innite vorticity (the surface at which the velocity has a jump) is subject to a small perturbation
in the form of a normal mode η (x, y, t) = η̃ (kx , ky ) ei(kx x+ky y) est we get
1 1
s = − ikx (U1 + U2 ) ± kx (U1 − U2 )
2 2

1
where k = kx2 + ky2 2 .
Provide a criterion for neutral stability. When the stationary ow becomes unstable and when
do the perturbations take forms of (growing?) waves? Determine the phase velocity of perturbation
waves. Consider waves with xed wavelength λ = 2π k . When the wavelength is xed the growth rate of
the unstable wave depends on the direction of its propagation. Determine the directions of strongest
and weakest amplication.