Stability of the laminar boundary layer in a streamwise corner

Abstract

This work examines the stability of viscous, incompressible flow along a streamwise corner, often called the corner boundary-layer problem. The semi-infinite boundary value problem satisfied by small-amplitude disturbances in the ‘blending boundary layer’ region is obtained. The mean secondary flow induced by the corner exhibits a flow reversal in this region. Uniformly valid ‘first approximations’ to solutions of the governing differ­ential equations are derived. Uniformity at infinity is achieved by a suitable choice of the large parameter and use of an appropriate Langer variable. Approximations to solutions of balanced type have a phase shift across the critical layer which is associated with instabilities in the case of two-dimensional boundary layer profiles.