Shear flow over flexible three-dimensional patches in a surface

Slowly varying shear flow is considered over one or more flexible three-dimensional patches in a surface inside a boundary layer. At certain shear values, resonances emerge in which the effects on flow and patch shape are enlarged by an order of magnitude. Fast evolution then occurs: this leads to fully nonlinear unsteady interaction, after some delay, combining with finite-time break-ups to form a distinct path into transition. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Modelling of sea-ice phenomena’.