Numerical investigations of the transition to turbulence in the Blasius boundary layer

In this thesis, instability of the flow of an incompressible viscous fluid over a flat plate and transition to turbulence is investigated. Linear and nonlinear periodic disturbances are introduced into the flow field and the reaction of the flow is studied numerically by solving the full time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations using the finite-difference method. Results obtained are interpreted and discussed utilizing the theory of dynamical systems.; Computational results for linear disturbances are in qualitative agreement with those of previous studies and those of the linear stability theory. Calculations for nonlinear oscillations indicate that the amplitude of impressed disturbances play a decisive role in the transition process and provide evidence that the transition to turbulence in the Blasius boundary layer follows the Ruelle-Takens scenario.