Linear stability of plane Poiseuille flow of two superposed fluids

Stability of two superposed fluids of different viscosity in plane Poiseuille flow is studied numerically. Conditions for the growth of an interfacial wave are identified. The analysis extends Yih’s results [J. Fluid Mech. 27, 337 (1967)] for small wavenumbers to large wavenumbers and accounts for differences in density and thickness ratios, as well as the effects of interfacial tension and gravity. Neutral stability diagrams for the interfacial mode are reported for a wide range of the physical parameters describing the flow. The analysis shows also that the flow is linearly unstable to a shear mode instability. The dependence of the critical Reynolds number for the shear mode on the viscosity ratio is reported. Theoretical predictions of critical Reynolds numbers for both modes of instability are compared with available experimental data.