Nonlinear wave interactions in shear flows. Part 2. Third-order theory

The temporal evolution of a resonant triad of wave components in a parallel shear flow has been investigated at second order in the wave amplitudes by Craik (1971) and Usher & Craik (1974). The present work extends these analyses to include terms of third order and thereby develops the resonance theory to the same order of approximation as the non-resonant third-order theory of Stuart (1960, 1962). Asymptotic analysis for large Reynolds numbers reveals that the magnitudes of the third-order interaction coefficients, like certain of those at second order, are remarkably large. The implications of this are discussed with particular reference to the roles of resonance and of three-dimensionality in nonlinear instability and to the range of validity of the perturbation analysis. © 1975, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.