Descriptif

The course is part of the curriculum of the Master program "Fluid Mechanics, Fundamentals & Applications". It is taught in English and counts for 3 ECTS credit points.

Basic and advanced concepts of linear instability theory are covered:

1) Instability analysis of parallel flows (temporal, spatial, absolute/convective instability)
2) Temporal eigenmode analysis of non-parallel flows
3) Non-modal transient perturbation growth
4) Statistics of stochastically forced turbulent shear flow

The course requires mathematical knowledge of eigenvalue decomposition and Fourier transformation. Practical sessions require coding in Python (no prerequisite). 

Emphasis is placed on shear instability, but boundary layer phenomena and buoyancy-driven instabilities are also covered.

Teacher:
Lutz Lesshafft, Laboratoire d'Hydrodynamique (LadHyX)
lutz.lesshafft@polytechnique.edu