Abstract: A two-dimensional linear stability model was presented,which can be used to estimate the inception point of rotating stall in axial flow compressors by solving the eigenvalues,the effects of the blade rows in compressors on the flow field have been modeled by body force source terms in the momentum equations.Two methods,finite difference and spectral collocation methods,have been used to discretize the eigenvalue equations.The validations of model have been performed in two different cases,and the results show that the simplified model is able to predict the stall onset point of low-speed axial compressors.