Experiments on the stability of nonlinear waves in a boundary layer. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • This work investigated the interaction of two Tollmien-Schlichting waves in a Blasius boundary layer when the waves displayed weakly nonlinear behaviour. Two separate oscillating signals were introduced into a single vibrating ribbon, while the initial amplitudes of the disturbances were controlled. The subsequent growth, interaction, and break down of the two waves at different initial amplitudes were monitored using a fast Fourier-transform spectrum analyzer. The second harmonic component was observed to grow at twice the growth rate of the fundamental in a Reynolds number range where linear theory predicted attenuation. More-over, it was found that in addition to the difference frequency component, the 2FSUP1 - FSUP2 component also dominated the nonlinear growth regime leading to transition. These results are compared with the theoretical model of Nayfeh and Bozatli . (A)

author list (cited authors)

  • Saric, W. S., & Reynolds, G. A.

complete list of authors

  • Saric, WS||Reynolds, GA

publication date

  • January 1980