Theoretical investigation of hydrodynamic surface mode in a lined duct with sheared flow and comparison with experiment

A spectral collocation method is used to solve the linearized Euler equations in a duct with shear flow and lined walls in order to identify a possible hydrodynamic instability observed in published experiments. This method is first checked against a reference test case in a cylindrical duct. Then a theoretical test case in a plane bi-dimensional duct with no-slip flow is considered: the Briggs–Bers stability criterion is proved to be valid and it shows that the hydrodynamic instability does correspond to a right-running amplified wave. Eigenmode analyses are then performed on the experimental configuration. An unstable hydrodynamic surface mode is found, with an axial wavenumber and velocity eigenfunctions which are in good agreement with the experimental ones. Acoustic energy calculations show that the hydrodynamic instability paradoxically carries noticeable levels of acoustic energy in the upstream direction. Finally, the influence of Mach number and frequency is investigated.