Selective enhancement of oblique waves caused by finite amplitude second mode in supersonic boundary layer

Nonlinear interactions of the two-dimensional (2D) second mode with oblique modes are studied numerically in a Mach 6.0 flat-plate boundary layer, focusing on its selective enhancement effect on amplification of different oblique waves. Evolution of oblique modes with various frequencies and spanwise wavenumbers in the presence of 2D second mode is simulated successively, using a modified parabolized stability equation (PSE) method, which is able to simulate interaction of two modes with different frequencies efficiently. Numerical results show that oblique modes in a broad band of frequencies and spanwise wavenumbers can be enhanced by the finite amplitude 2D second mode instability wave. The enhancement effect is accomplished by interaction of the 2D second mode, the oblique mode, and a forced mode with difference frequency. Two types of oblique modes are found to be more amplified, i.e., oblique modes with frequency close to that of the 2D second mode and low-frequency first mode oblique waves. Each of them may correspond to one type of transition routes found in transition experiments. The spanwise wavenumber of the oblique wave preferred by the nonlinear interaction is also determined by numerical simulations.