ABSTRACT
A similarity solution of a three-dimensional boundary layer is investigated. The outer flow is given by U = ( - xz, - yz, z 2), corresponding to an axisymmetric poloidal circulation with constant potential vorticity. This flow is an exact solution of the Navier-Stokes. A wall is introduced at y = 0 along which a boundary layer develops towards x = 0. We show that a similarity reduction to a system of ODEs is possible. Two distinct solutions are found, one of them through numerical path-continuation, and their stability is investigated. A second three-dimensional solution is also identified for two-dimensional outer flow. The solutions are generalized for outer flows scaling with different powers of z and similar results are found. This behaviour is related to the non-uniqueness of the Falkner-Skan flows in a three-dimensional sense, with a transverse wall-jet.
