L. Brevdo et al., ABSOLUTE AND CONVECTIVE STABILITY ANALYSE S OF VELOCITY PROFILES OF AMOTOR-VEHICLE USING AN ORR-SOMERFELD ANALYTIC APPROACH, Zeitschrift fur angewandte Mathematik und Mechanik, 74(7), 1994, pp. 243-256
The experimentally measured, time averaged velocity profiles in the tu
rbulent wake behind a motor vehicle are studied on absolute and convec
tive instability using an analytic Orr-Sommerfeld approach. An absolut
ely unstable domain coinciding approximately with the domain of the qu
asistationary reverse flow in the wake was identified. This allows us
to suggest that wake control, e.g. by means of a base bleed, for the p
urpose of reduction of the resistance is possible. This suggestion is
confirmed by a first principle experiment.