Hydrodynamic stability of boundary layers with surface mass transfer

The linear stability of the flat plate boundary layer with surface blowing and suction is investigated by the application of numerical techniques. Complete neutral stability curves, critical Reynolds numbers and wave numbers, and other stability characteristics are determined for a wide range of surface mass transfer intensities. The critical Reynolds number, based on the displacement thickness, is found to vary from 59 to 32500 between the extreme limits of blowing and suction that are investigated. Comparisons are made between the present results and available linear stability information for boundary layers with surface mass transfer and with free-stream pressure gradients. The universal stability bound of Joseph is evaluated and compared with the corresponding numerically exact neutral stability curve.