Nonlinear wave interactions in shear flows. Part 1. A variational formulation

Abstract

A modified version of Bateman's variational formulation of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations and boundary conditions (see Dryden, Murnaghan & Bateman 1956) is introduced. This is employed to examine a particular nonlinear problem of hydrodynamic stability which was treated previously, using a ‘direct’ approach, by Craik (1971). This problem concerns the resonant interaction at second order of a triad of wave modes in a parallel shear flow.The present method is conceptually attractive; it also has the major advantage over the ‘direct’ method of a substantial reduction in algebraic complexity, which allows results to be derived far more readily. Also, some further improvements are made upon Craik's previous analysis. Such a variational approach may often be simpler than present conventional methods of tackling nonlinear viscous-flow problems. The present paper shows how other problems of nonlinear stability and wave interactions may be tackled in this way.