Understanding, predicting and eventually delaying transition to turbulence in fluid flows have been challenging issues for scientists ever since the pioneering work of Osborne Reynolds in 1883. These problems have mostly been addressed using the hydrodynamic linear stability theory. Yet, due to limited computational resources, linear stability analyses have essentially relied until recently on strong simplification hypotheses such as the “parallel flow” assumption. In this framework, known as “local stability theory”, only the stability of flows with strong academic interest but limited practical applications can be investigated. However, over the course of the past decade, simplification hypotheses have been relaxed from the “parallel flow” assumption to a two-dimensionality assumption of the flow resulting in what is now known as the “global stability theory”. This new framework allows one to investigate the instability and transition mechanisms taking place in more realistic flows. More particularly, the stability of strongly non-parallel flows exhibiting separation, a common feature of numerous flows of practical interest, can now be studied. Moreover, with the continuous increase of computational power available and the development of new iterative eigenvalue algorithms, investigating the global stability of fully three-dimensional flows, for which no simplification hypothesis is necessary, is now feasible. Following the work presented in 2008 by Bagheri et al., the aim of the present thesis is thus to develop the tools mandatory to investigate the stability of 3D flows. Three flow configurations have been chosen to illustrate the new investigation capabilities brought by global stability theory when it is applied to realistic three-dimensional flows: i) the flow within a cuboid lid-driven cavity, ii) the flow within an asymmetric stenotic pipe and iii) the boundary layer flow developing over a cylindrical roughness element mounted on a flat plate. Each of these flows have different practical applications ranging from purely academic interests to biomedical and aerodynamical applications. They also allow us to put in the limelight different aspects and possible limitations of the various tools developed during this PhD thesis.

In this book, the authors present the elements of a general theory for flows on three-dimensional compact boundaryless manifolds, encompassing flows with equilibria accumulated by regular orbits. The book aims to provide a global perspective of this theory and make it easier for the reader to digest the growing literature on this subject. This is not the first book on the subject of dynamical systems, but there are distinct aspects which together make this book unique. Firstly, this book treats mostly continuous time dynamical systems, instead of its discrete counterpart, exhaustively treated in some other texts. Secondly, this book treats all the subjects from a mathematical perspective with proofs of most of the results included. Thirdly, this book is meant to be an advanced graduate textbook and not just a reference book or monograph on the subject. This aspect is reflected in the way the cover material is presented, with careful and complete proofs, and precise references to topics in the book.

Viscous flow is treated usually in the frame of boundary-layer theory and as two-dimensional flow. Books on boundary layers give at most the describing equations for three-dimensional boundary layers, and solutions often only for some special cases. This book provides basic principles and theoretical foundations regarding three-dimensional attached viscous flow. Emphasis is put on general three-dimensional attached viscous flows and not on three-dimensional boundary layers. This wider scope is necessary in view of the theoretical and practical problems to be mastered in practice. The topics are weak, strong, and global interaction, the locality principle, properties of three-dimensional viscous flow, thermal surface effects, characteristic properties, wall compatibility conditions, connections between inviscid and viscous flow, flow topology, quasi-one- and two-dimensional flows, laminar-turbulent transition and turbulence. Though the primary flight speed range is that of civil air transport vehicles, flows past other flying vehicles up to hypersonic speeds are also considered. Emphasis is put on general three-dimensional attached viscous flows and not on three-dimensional boundary layers, as this wider scope is necessary in view of the theoretical and practical problems that have to be overcome in practice. The specific topics covered include weak, strong, and global interaction; the locality principle; properties of three-dimensional viscous flows; thermal surface effects; characteristic properties; wall compatibility conditions; connections between inviscid and viscous flows; flow topology; quasi-one- and two-dimensional flows; laminar-turbulent transition; and turbulence. Detailed discussions of examples illustrate these topics and the relevant phenomena encountered in three-dimensional viscous flows. The full governing equations, reference-temperature relations for qualitative considerations and estimations of flow properties, and coordinates for fuselages and wings are also provided. Sample problems with solutions allow readers to test their understanding.

A detailed look at some of the more modern issues of hydrodynamic stability, including transient growth, eigenvalue spectra, secondary instability. It presents analytical results and numerical simulations, linear and selected nonlinear stability methods. By including classical results as well as recent developments in the field of hydrodynamic stability and transition, the book can be used as a textbook for an introductory, graduate-level course in stability theory or for a special-topics fluids course. It is equally of value as a reference for researchers in the field of hydrodynamic stability theory or with an interest in recent developments in fluid dynamics. Stability theory has seen a rapid development over the past decade, this book includes such new developments as direct numerical simulations of transition to turbulence and linear analysis based on the initial-value problem.