Positive Solutions of the Falkner--Skan Equation Arising in the Boundary Layer Theory

http://dx.doi.org/10.4153/CMB-2008-039-7
Canad. Math. Bull. 51(2008), 386-398

  Published:2008-09-01
 Printed: Sep 2008

The well-known Falkner--Skan equation is one of the most important equations in laminar boundary layer theory and is used to describe the steady two-dimensional flow of a slightly viscous incompressible fluid past wedge shaped bodies of angles related to $\lambda\pi/2$, where $\lambda\in \mathbb R$ is a parameter involved in the equation. It is known that there exists $\lambda^{*}<0$ such that the equation with suitable boundary conditions has at least one positive solution for each $\lambda\ge \lambda^{*}$ and has no positive solutions for $\lambda<\lambda^{*}$. The known numerical result shows $\lambda^{*}=-0.1988$. In this paper, $\lambda^{*}\in [-0.4,-0.12]$ is proved analytically by establishing a singular integral equation which is equivalent to the Falkner--Skan equation. The equivalence result provides new techniques to study properties and existence of solutions of the Falkner--Skan equation.