Waves in a shear flow: transition between the KH, Holmboe and Miles instability

TL;DR

This study explores the transition between Kelvin-Helmholtz, Holmboe, and Miles instabilities in shear flows with stratification, revealing new behaviors and confirming theoretical predictions through simulations.

Contribution

It demonstrates the coexistence and transition of three canonical shear flow instabilities within a single model, providing new insights into their behaviors and interactions.

Findings

Miles mode persists up to delta=0.01, ten times the air-water value.

Transition from sharp to smooth stress variation as delta increases.

Nonlinear simulations agree with linear theory up to five wave periods.

Abstract

We investigate shear driven wave generation at the interface between two immiscible fluids, using an exponential velocity profile with a sharp density interface representing stable stratification. At low Froude and high Bond numbers, conditions relevant to geophysical and astrophysical flows, we identify a novel transition in the fastest growing mode: from Kelvin Helmholtz (KH) instability at high density ratio (delta = 0.9), to Holmboe (H) instability as delta approaches 0.5, and ultimately to the Miles (1957) critical layer instability as delta approaches 0.001, representative of the air water system. Remarkably, the Miles mode, characterized by a sharp jump in inviscid Reynolds stress (tau) at the critical layer, persists up to delta = 0.01, i.e., ten times the air water value. As delta increases, the vertical variation of tau undergoes a qualitative change, from a sharp jump at the critical layer for delta much less than 1 to a smooth transition through it for delta greater than or equal to 0.5. A theoretical explanation is provided. In the moderate to high density ratio regime, comparison with a piecewise-linear (PL) velocity profile confirms the presence of both H and KH instabilities in the exponential profile. Nonlinear simulations of the incompressible Euler equations with gravity and surface tension show excellent agreement with linear theory for delta = 0.01 up to five wave periods. At delta = 0.1, waves saturate into finite-amplitude structures with capillary ripples, while at delta = 0.5, the waves develop sheared cusps and emit spume, resembling asymmetric Holmboe waves observed experimentally. At delta = 0.9, the waves rapidly evolve into classic KH spirals. Comparisons with the PL profile highlight the role of background curvature and the critical layer. This work presents, for the first time, all three canonical instabilities within a single background state.