Wavelength selection and growth of Görtler vortices

An analysis of the growth of Gortler vortices and their effect on the laminar/turbulent transition process is presented. It is shown that only disturbances corresponding to the basic mode need to be considered and that the total growth of the disturbances depends upon the vortex size. Since the vortex wavelength is preserved in the streamwise direction, the vortex wavelength selection mechanism indirectly affects the total growth of the disturbances that dominate the instability process. It is shown that under ideal flow conditions, a vortex wavelength selection mechanism may be based on the maximum total growth of the disturbances. It is demonstrated that departures from the ideal flow conditions affect the vortex wavelength selection mechanism and the total growth of the vortices. The case of streamwise vorticity in the basic flow is analyzed and is shown to affect disturbances through a resonance. © 1984 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., All rights reserved.