On boundary layer separation under increasing pressure (Q1963386)

The following boundary value problem for the Prandtl system is discussed: Given a domain \(G= (0,X)\times (0,Y)\), find the velocity components \(u(x,y)\), \(v(x,y)\) \(((x,y)\in G)\) satisfying the equations \(uu_x+ vv_y=\nu u_{yy}- p_x\), \(u_x+ v_y= 0\), \(\nu= \text{const}> 0\) and the boundary conditions \(u|_{x=0}= u_0(x)\), \(u|_{y=0}= v|_{y=0}=0\), \(\lim_{y\to\infty} u(x,y)= U(x)\). Here the known pressure \(p\) satisfies the equation \(U^2(x)+ 2p(x)=\text{const}\). The boundary layer separation occurs if, at some interior point \((x_0, y_0)\in G\), the horizontal component of the velocity \(u(x,y)\) vanishes. In this case, solutions to the above boundary value problem have no physical sense for \(x> x_0\). The main result consists in finding conditions on the function \(U(x)\) ensuring the separation of the boundary layer. These conditions are formulated as some inequalities involving the function \(U\) and, in contrast with previous results, can be fulfilled even in the case when \(U\) is strictly positive on the segment \([0,X]\).