Algebraically growing waves in ducts with sheared mean flow

Abstract

Analysis of the behavior of standing and traveling acoustic waves in a smooth duct with a fluid flow having a sheared mean velocity profile, when the waves grow algebraically as they travel along the duct axis. It is shown that standing waves growing algebraically with the axial distance cannot exist in a smooth duct when the duct wall have a finite resistance. The existence of traveling waves subject to the same law of growth is also dismissed under realistic flow conditions.