Nonlinear development of two-dimensional hydroelastic instability in a turbulent boundary layer on an elastic coating

Nonlinear evolution of hydroelastic instability arising in the flow past a coating of a rubber-type material by a turbulent boundary layer of an incompressible fluid is studied. A nonlinear dispersion equation for two-dimensional, quasi-monochromatic, low-amplitude waves is derived. The Prandtl equations for the mean (over the waviness period) boundary-layer flow are solved in the approximation of local similarity and by direct numerical integration. Evolution of unstable waves in time is studied on the basis of the Landau equation, which is derived separately for the instability of fast waves (flutter) and the quasi-static instability (divergence). The calculation results are compared with available experimental data.