Abstract
A new approach to describe the asymmetry vortex state occurrence for the separated flow over slender bodies is presented. On the basis of the proposed model, a criterion of the asymmetry origin for conical bodies is found using catastrophe theory. Main properties of the transition to an asymmetric state are studied on the basis of the local analysis, the flow characteristics near the critical saddle point. Using the obtained criterion and the new model, numerical calculations of turbulent boundary layer are made to estimate an effectiveness of global flow structure control methods using local plasma discharge or surface heating. The qualitative confirmation of presented numerical results was done by experiments.