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The investigation of a separated shear layer was undertaken to clarify the non-linear mechanisms associated with instability and transition to turbulence. Such an investigation is of practical importance since profiles which resemble the separated shear layer are a common occurrence. A two-dimensional free shear layer was formed by separation of a laminar boundary layer from a rearward-facing step. The free-stream speed was approximately 16 ft./sec. Hot-wire measurements were made in the region directly downstream of the plate trailing edge. The measurements included mean velocity profiles, frequency spectra of the longitudinal fluctuation, and root-mean-square amplitude and phase distributions of various spectral components of the longitudinal fluctuation. Several measurements were designed to detect the presence of periodic spanwise structure. The most important findings were: Significant non-linear distortion of the initial unstable wave occurred without periodic spanwise structure. Non-linear distortion was first manifest by the growth of a subharmonic oscillation, which was strongly intermittent. Numerous harmonics of the sub-harmonic oscillation were also present. Strong evidence suggests that secondary instabilities were present, which created still higher frequencies.
F. K. Browand (Sat,) studied this question.