Linear Stability Theory

Laminar-to-turbulent transition can occur through several mechanisms, such as in linear instability, bypass transition, Gortler instability, and cross-flow instability. For more discussion of this issue see Bushnell et al. (1988), Gortler (1965), Dagenhart et al. (1989, 1990), and Saric and Benmalek (1991). The most widely used tool for predicting transition is the so-called eN method, which is discussed in chapter 3. The eN method is based on the linear stability theory, which is discussed in this chapter.