On the structure of similarity solutions of a differential equation arising from boundary layer problem (Q2272053)

The paper concerns the study of the multiplicity and of the qualitative properties of the solutions of the boundary layer equation \[ f''' - f f''-\beta (f')^2=0 \] with the boundary conditions \[ f(0)=\alpha, \;f'(0)=1, \;f'(+\infty)=0 \] depending on the values of the real parameters \(\alpha,\beta\). This problem was already considered by \textit{B. Brighi} and \textit{T. Sari} [Discrete Contin. Dyn. Syst. 12, No.~5, 929--948 (2005; Zbl 1076.34028)], \textit{J. Guo} and \textit{J. Tsai} [Japan J. Ind. Appl. Math. 22, No.~3, 311--351 (2005; Zbl 1095.34006)] and by \textit{J. Tsai} [Appl. Math. Lett. 21, No.~1, 67--73 (2008; Zbl 1130.76031)] where an answer was given for \(\beta<-2\) or \(\beta=0\). The present paper completes this investigation considering values \(\beta\geq 2\), for which uniqueness or multiplicity results together with some qualitative properties of the solutions are proved. The study is carried out by combining the shooting method and phase portrait analysis.