Welcome back. Last week, we derived the Orr-Sommerfeld equation, which governs the evolution of small disturbances in 2D parallel shear flows. This equation was cast as an eigenvalue problem, L? = c?, that determined stream function amplitudes, ?, and their associated complex wave speeds, c, that characterized the behavior of small perturbations. The governing Orr-Sommerfeld … [Read more...] about Hydrodynamic Stability: Non-Normality and Transient Energy Growth
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From Shark Skin To Swimsuits
Sharks are one of nature's most efficient swimmers, gliding through water with remarkable ease. The secret to their aquadynamic prowess lies in their skin. Shark skin is covered in tiny structures called dermal denticles, which are tooth-like scales that create tiny vortices, reducing drag as the shark swims. Engineers and designers at major sportswear companies took … [Read more...] about From Shark Skin To Swimsuits
Breaking the Cycle: How the School-to-Prison Pipeline Disproportionately Impacts Black Children
The school-to-prison pipeline is a troubling pattern that disproportionately affects Black children, funneling them from schools into the criminal justice system. This pipeline is created through a combination of harsh disciplinary policies, racial bias, and unequal access to educational resources. For many Black students, school becomes a place of punishment rather than a … [Read more...] about Breaking the Cycle: How the School-to-Prison Pipeline Disproportionately Impacts Black Children
Hydrodynamic Stability: The Orr-Sommerfeld Equation
Welcome back. In this post, we will discuss the celebrated Orr-Sommerfeld equation, which is an eigenvalue problem governing the 2D stability of viscous parallel shear flows. Although this equation might initially seem narrow in scope since it only accounts for two spatial dimensions, it can actually be applied to a substantial range of 3D flows. This works because of Squire’s … [Read more...] about Hydrodynamic Stability: The Orr-Sommerfeld Equation
From Person to Prisoner: The Impact of Mandatory Uniforms
When issued a prison uniform, an incarcerated individual is instantly transformed from a person with a colorful history, unique personality, and future ambitions into a faceless entity defined solely by a number and an offense. This transformation strips away more than personal clothing—it erases identity and imposes an enforced conformity that reduces human beings to mere … [Read more...] about From Person to Prisoner: The Impact of Mandatory Uniforms