The influence of periodic excitation on a plane turbulent one-stream shear layer with turbulent separation was investigated. For the qualitative study flow visualization was employed. Quantitative data were obtained with hot-wire anemometry and spectrum analysis. It was found that sinusoidal perturbations with frequencies of order f0 [lsim ] u0/100θ0 (depending on excitation strength), introduced at the trailing edge are always amplified. Maximum amplification factors are observed for the lowest perturbation levels. The frequency and amplitude of excitation determine the downstream location of the amplification maximum in the flow. At sufficient amplitude two-dimensional vortices are formed which subsequently decay without pairing. The development of the periodic r.m.s. values along x follows a universal curve for all frequencies and amplitudes when properly normalized.At high excitation amplitudes the flow development depends strongly on the geometrical conditions of the excitation arrangement at the trailing edge. Thus regular vortex pairing as well as suppression of pairing can be achieved.The excited shear layer has considerably stronger, yet nonlinear, spread than the neutral. The region of vortex formation, irrespective of whether it includes pairing or not, is associated with a step-like increase in width, while after the position of maximum vortex energy, i.e. in the region of decay, the spread is reduced to values below the neutral. There the overall lateral fluctuation energy is increased, while the longitudinal may be decreased as compared with the neutral flow.
