ON THE STABILITY OF PLANE AND CURVED FLAMES.

Theoretical studies on flame stability have generally been based on one of two approaches: (i) the hydrodynamic model which accounts for thermal expansion due to combustion, but ignores flame structure, and (ii) the diffusional-thermal model which considers flame structure in a prescribed constant density flow, thus ignoring thermal expansion. The present study is based on a model in which both thermal expansion and flame structure are accounted for. The model describes the dynamics of flame fronts including their stability. The stability of plane and curved flames is discussed, and the effect of flame stretch, thermal expansion, Lewis number and Prandtl number, on stability is determined.