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Asymptotic Study of Instability in a Three-Layer Stokes Flow with an Inhomogeneous Layer Thickness. Modeling of the Folding Process

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Abstract

Zero-Reynolds-number instability in a three-layer Stokes flow of viscous fluid with an inhomogeneous layer thickness in a two-dimensional region with a free boundary is investigated. The method of multiple scales is applied for constructing an asymptotic expansion of the solution of the boundary-value problem for the Stokes equations. The stability of the system of first-approximation equations is analyzed using the Fourier method, and it is concluded that the most significant increase in the zero-Reynolds-number instability occurs in a region of waves whose lengths are comparable with the thickness of the middle layer. In contrast to the case of a constant layer thickness, the instability parameters are variables. The mechanism of formation of geological folds is studied.

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Correspondence to V. V. Pak.

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Original Russian Text © V.V. Pak.

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Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 60, No. 6, pp. 53–64, November-December, 2019.

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Pak, V.V. Asymptotic Study of Instability in a Three-Layer Stokes Flow with an Inhomogeneous Layer Thickness. Modeling of the Folding Process. J Appl Mech Tech Phy 60, 1020–1030 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0021894419060063

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0021894419060063

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