Linear stability of boundary layers under solitary waves

In the present treatise, the stability of the boundary layer under solitary waves is analysed by means of the parabolized stability equation. We investigate both surface solitary waves and internal solitary waves. The main result is that the stability of the flow is not of parametric nature as has been assumed in the literature so far. Not only does linear stability analysis highlight this misunderstanding, it also gives an explanation why Sumer et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 646, 2010, pp. 207-231), Vittori & Blondeaux (Coastal Engng, vol. 58, 2011, pp. 206-213) and Ozdemir et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 731, 2013, pp. 545-578) each obtained different critical Reynolds numbers in their experiments and simulations. We find that linear instability is possible in the acceleration region of the flow, leading to the question of how this relates to the observation of transition in the acceleration region in the experiments by Sumer et al. or to the conjecture of a nonlinear instability mechanism in this region by Ozdemir et al. The key concept for assessment of instabilities is the integrated amplification which has not been employed for this kind of flow before. In addition, the present analysis is not based on a uniformization of the flow but instead uses a fully nonlinear description including non-parallel effects, weakly or fully. This allows for an analysis of the sensitivity with respect to these effects. Thanks to this thorough analysis, quantitative agreement between model results and direct numerical simulation has been obtained for the problem in question. The use of a high-order accurate Navier-Stokes solver is primordial in order to obtain agreement for the accumulated amplifications of the Tollmien-Schlichting waves as revealed in this analysis. An elaborate discussion on the effects of amplitudes and water depths on the stability of the flow is presented.