Steady linear three-dimensional disturbances are investigated in a two-dimensional laminar boundary layer. The boundary layer is subject to a streamwise favourable-to-adverse pressure gradient and eventually undergoes separation. The separating flow corresponds to the first part of a pressure-induced laminar-separation bubble on a flat plate. Streamwise disturbance development in such a flow is studied by means of direct numerical simulation, a water-tunnel experiment and an adjoint-based parabolic theory suited to study spatial optimal growth. A complete overview of the disturbance evolution in various areas of the favourable-to-adverse pressure gradient laminar boundary layer is given. Results from all investigation methods show overall good agreement with respect to disturbance growth and shape within the entire domain. In the favourable pressure-gradient region and, again, slightly downstream of separation, transient growth caused by the lift-up effect dominates disturbance behaviour. In the adverse pressure-gradient region, a modal instability is observed. Evidence is presented that this instability is of Görtler type.

Amplitude thresholds for transition of localized disturbances, their breakdown to turbulence and the development of turbulent spots in the asymptotic suction boundary layer are studied using direct numerical simulations. A parametric study of the horizontal scales of the initial disturbance is performed and the disturbances that lead to the highest growth under the conditions investigated are used in the simulations. The Reynolds-number dependence of the threshold amplitude of a localized disturbance is investigated for 500≤ Re ≤ 1200, based on the free-stream velocity and the displacement thickness. It is found that the threshold amplitude scales as Re−1.5 for the considered Reynolds numbers. For Re ≤ 367, the localized disturbance does not lead to a turbulent spot and this provides an estimate of the critical Reynolds number for the onset of turbulence. When the localized disturbance breaks down to a turbulent spot, it happens through the development of hairpin and spiral vortices. The shape and spreading rate of the turbulent spot are determined for Re = 500, 800 and 1200. Flow visualizations reveal that the turbulent spot takes a bullet-shaped form that becomes more distinct for higher Reynolds numbers. Long streaks extend in front of the spot and in its wake a calm region exists. The spreading rate of the turbulent spot is found to increase with increasing Reynolds number.

A plane wall-jet flow is numerically investigated and compared to experiments. The measured base flow is matched to a boundary-layer solution developing from a coupled Blasius boundary layer and Blasius shear layer. Linear stability analysis is performed, revealing high instability of two-dimensional eigenmodes and non-modal streaks. The nonlinear stage of laminar-flow breakdown is studied with three-dimensional direct numerical simulations and experimentally visualized. In the direct numerical simulation, an investigation of the nonlinear interaction between two-dimensional waves and streaks is made. The role of subharmonic waves and pairing of vortex rollers is also investigated. It is demonstrated that the streaks play an important role in the breakdown process, where their growth is transformed from algebraic to exponential as they become part of the secondary instability of the two-dimensional waves. In the presence of streaks, pairing is suppressed and breakdown to turbulence is enhanced.

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