Introduction. Infinite systems

are discussed in which k(θ) and b(n) are differentiable. The aim is to determine the behaviour of a(n) for large n and to reduce (1) to a finite system. This involves solving

for the high order a(n), n ≥ N, in terms of the preceding a(n), with a large enough N to facilitate the iteration procedure employed. The desired N − 1, N − 1 system follows on substitution for the high order a(n) in the first N − 1 equations (1).

The theory of unsteady two-dimensional compressible boundary layers is studied in two parts. Part I deals with the solutions when the main stream is steady and the body is in an arbitrary motion while Part II deals with the solutions when the main stream is steady and the body is at rest with an arbitrary unsteady suction or injection perturbing about a zero mean. General methods of obtaining solutions are given when the coefficient of viscosity is proportional to temperature and the Prandtl number is unity. The main feature of the work in this paper lies in subjecting the equations to a transformation similar to that of Howarth and in linearization similar to that of Lighthill. Following the work of Sarma in incompressible flows two types of solutions are developed, one for large times and the other for small times. General expressions for the skin friction, the pressure ratio, the heat transfer and the difference between the normal coordinates of compressible and incompressible flows are obtained.

The unsteady two-dimensional thermal boundary-layer equation linearized as by Lighthill is studied. Two different problems are considered mainly, one in Part I and the other in Part II. Part I deals with the solution when the temperature of the main stream is constant and that of the wall is unsteady and Part II when the temperature of the main stream is constant and the heat transfer from the wall is unsteady. Unified methods are developed from which the results for the stagnation flow and the flow along a flat plate, etc., can be derived as special cases. The results of the unsteady velocity boundary-layer equations analysed by Sarma are used and solutions are obtained in two cases, first, when the main stream is in steady motion and the wall is in an arbitrary motion and secondly when the main stream is in unsteady motion and the wall is at rest. The flat plate problem is considered in detail; the results agree with those given by Lighthill and Moore.

An infinitely long canal with uniform cross-section is filled with inviscid fluid. It is required first to show that any small two-dimensional motion of the fluid can be represented as the superposition of normal mode disturbances. A suitable generalized Green's function G(x, y; ξ) is constructed and is used to set up an integral equation (2·9) for the velocity potential on the free surface. It is shown that the eigenfunctions are complete and so are their (possibly time-dependent) extensions to the whole canal, in the sense that an arbitrary disturbance possesses a unique representation. In section 5, it is required to find asymptotic approximations to the large eigenvalues of (2·9). For this purpose a different integral equation (5·5) is set up on the canal, the kernel of which is the sum of a degenerate kernel and a small kernel. The solutions of this equation can therefore be obtained by iteration. The form of the mth eigenvalue is shown to be

for sufficiently large m.