On bifurcation phenomena in conical flow patterns

Conical flow patterns that occur if an unstable conical stagnation point bifurcates due to the variation of a local parameter are discussed. Breakup of a structurally unstable singularity into several stable singularities, and changes in the nature of the flow if two or more isolated singular points merge together are discussed. Although the analysis is restricted to conical flows the underlying ideas can be applied to flow problems such as the description of skin friction lines on a three dimensional body. Results are illustrated by the flow around a circular and elliptical cone in an inviscid supersonic main stream.