Formation of solitons in transitional boundary layers: theory and experiment

Abstract

This work brings together experimental and theoretical studies of nonlinear stages aimed at the K-regime in boundary-layer transition, and some combined theoretical and experimental results are discussed. It is shown that the initial stages in the formation of so-called spikes, observed in many experiments, may be described very well by the asymptotic theory. These flashes-spikes are shown to be (in certain regimes) possible solitons of the boundary layer and governed by the integral-differential Benjamin-Ono equation. Properties of the spike-solitons, obtained both theoretically and experimentally in the quasi-planar stages of their development, are presented. Features of the disturbance behaviour connected with the subsequent development of three-dimensionality are also discussed, as are the effects of viscosity and shorter lengthscales. The main conclusion of the work concerns the hypothesis of the possible soliton nature of the flashes-spikes (within limits), which seems reliably corroborated by the good agreement found between the theory and the experimental data.