Experiments on the stability of streamwise streaks in plane Poiseuille flow

The development and stability of streamwise streaks are studied in an air-flow channel experiment at subcritical Reynolds numbers. The streaks were generated by continuous suction through small slots at the wall. The streak amplitude first grows algebraically, and if the amplitude exceeds a certain threshold secondary instability in the form of travelling waves is observed. These waves give rise to high u(rms) values in the region of large spanwise mean flow gradient. Measurements with two hot-wire probes indicate that velocity fluctuations are 180 degrees out of phase at two neighboring peaks at each side of a low velocity region and implies the existence of a sinuous type instability. Measurements were also made with controlled disturbances where earphones were used to force the secondary instability. Phase averaged data clearly show the oscillation of the low velocity region and also provides the growth rate, phase speed as well as amplitude and phase distributions of the secondary instability. Several of these features suggest that the instability is of inflectional origin. Finally the disturbance breaks down and the flow undergoes transition to turbulence. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S1070-6631(99)01304-5].