Abstract: | The linear stability of a boundary layer flow with a spanwise-periodic nonuniformity in the velocity profile is investigated. This flow can be considered as a model of a streaky structure occurring in the boundary layer at a high freestream turbulence level. It is shown that for a small nonuniformity amplitude symmetric modes similar to Tollmien-Schlichting waves are the most unstable. At higher nonuniformity amplitudes, antisymmetric modes, qualitatively different from Tollmien-Schlichting waves and having a larger phase velocity, are the most amplified. Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 6, pp. 54–63, November–December, 1998. The study was carried out with the support of the International Scientific and Technical Center (project No. 199-95) and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project No. 95-01-01201a). |