Study of instability and active control of boundary layers using Navier-Stokes equations
Spatial stability of a three-dimensional growing boundary layer is studied using Navier-Stokes equations. The finite difference method used is an explicit, predictor-corrector type which is fourth-order accurate in space and second-order in time. Active control of two-dimensional disturbances is simulated by localized surface heating. The computations show features of the flow relevant to early stages of transition such as lifting of vorticity away from the wall and localized regions of intense shear. Active control with single heating strip is only marginally effective, but may be improved by multiple strips.