Internal waves of finite amplitude and permanent form

1966 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Brooke Benjamin
Keyword(s):  
Internal Waves ◽  
Present Theory ◽  
Boussinesq Approximation ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Physical Models ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Explicit Formulae ◽  
The Waves ◽  
Wave Phenomena ◽  
Permanent Form

A theory is derived for the class of long two-dimensional waves, comprising solitary and periodic cnoidal waves, that can propagate with unchanging form in heterogeneous fluids. The treatment is generalized to the extent that the waves are supposed to arise on a horizontal stream of incompressible fluid whose density and velocity are arbitrary functions of height, and the upper surface of the fluid is allowed either to be free or to be fixed in a horizontal plane. Explicit formulae for the wave properties and a general interpretation of the physical conditions for the occurrence of the waves are achieved without need to specify particular physical models; but in a later part of the paper, §4, the results are applied to three examples that have been worked out by other means and so provide checks on the present theory. These general results are also shown to accord nicely with the principle of ‘conjugate-flow pairs’ which was explained by Benjamin (1962b) with reference to swirling flows along cylindrical ducts, but which is known to apply equally well to flow systems of the kind in question here.The theory reveals certain physical peculiarities of a type of flow model often used in theoretical studies of internal-wave phenomena, being specified so as to make the equation for the stream-function linear. In an appendix, some observations are also made regarding the ‘Boussinesq approximation’, which too is often used as a simplifying assumption in this field. It is shown, adding to a recent discussion by Long (1965), that finite internal waves may depend crucially on small effects neglected in this approximation.

Finite-amplitude internal wavepacket dispersion and breaking

2001 ◽  
Vol 429 ◽  
pp. 343-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRUCE R. SUTHERLAND
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Internal Waves ◽  
Large Amplitude ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Critical Amplitude ◽  
Fully Nonlinear ◽  
Weakly Nonlinear ◽  
The Stability ◽  
The Waves ◽  
Horizontal Wavelength

The evolution and stability of two-dimensional, large-amplitude, non-hydrostatic internal wavepackets are examined analytically and by numerical simulations. The weakly nonlinear dispersion relation for horizontally periodic, vertically compact internal waves is derived and the results are applied to assess the stability of weakly nonlinear wavepackets to vertical modulations. In terms of Θ, the angle that lines of constant phase make with the vertical, the wavepackets are predicted to be unstable if [mid ]Θ[mid ] < Θc, where Θc = cos−1 (2/3)1/2 ≃ 35.3° is the angle corresponding to internal waves with the fastest vertical group velocity. Fully nonlinear numerical simulations of finite-amplitude wavepackets confirm this prediction: the amplitude of wavepackets with [mid ]Θ[mid ] > Θc decreases over time; the amplitude of wavepackets with [mid ]Θ[mid ] < Θc increases initially, but then decreases as the wavepacket subdivides into a wave train, following the well-known Fermi–Pasta–Ulam recurrence phenomenon.If the initial wavepacket is of sufficiently large amplitude, it becomes unstable in the sense that eventually it convectively overturns. Two new analytic conditions for the stability of quasi-plane large-amplitude internal waves are proposed. These are qualitatively and quantitatively different from the parametric instability of plane periodic internal waves. The ‘breaking condition’ requires not only that the wave is statically unstable but that the convective instability growth rate is greater than the frequency of the waves. The critical amplitude for breaking to occur is found to be ACV = cot Θ (1 + cos2 Θ)/2π, where ACV is the ratio of the maximum vertical displacement of the wave to its horizontal wavelength. A second instability condition proposes that a statically stable wavepacket may evolve so that it becomes convectively unstable due to resonant interactions between the waves and the wave-induced mean flow. This hypothesis is based on the assumption that the resonant long wave–short wave interaction, which Grimshaw (1977) has shown amplifies the waves linearly in time, continues to amplify the waves in the fully nonlinear regime. Using linear theory estimates, the critical amplitude for instability is ASA = sin 2Θ/(8π2)1/2. The results of numerical simulations of horizontally periodic, vertically compact wavepackets show excellent agreement with this latter stability condition. However, for wavepackets with horizontal extent comparable with the horizontal wavelength, the wavepacket is found to be stable at larger amplitudes than predicted if Θ [lsim ] 45°. It is proposed that these results may explain why internal waves generated by turbulence in laboratory experiments are often observed to be excited within a narrow frequency band corresponding to Θ less than approximately 45°.

scholarly journals Propagation regimes of interfacial solitary waves in a three-layer fluid

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-41
Author(s):  
O. E. Kurkina ◽  
A. A. Kurkin ◽  
E. A. Rouvinskaya ◽  
T. Soomere
Keyword(s):  
Internal Waves ◽  
Fluid Layer ◽  
Soliton Solutions ◽  
Boussinesq Approximation ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Stable Configuration ◽  
Weakly Nonlinear ◽  
Small Parameters ◽  
Specific Equation ◽  
Kdv Type Equations

Abstract. Long weakly nonlinear finite-amplitude internal waves in a fluid consisting of three inviscid immiscible layers of arbitrary thickness and constant densities (stable configuration, Boussinesq approximation) bounded by a horizontal rigid bottom from below and by a rigid lid at the surface are described up to the second order of perturbation theory in small parameters of nonlinearity and dispersion. First, a pair of alternatives of appropriate KdV-type equations with the coefficients depending on the parameters of the fluid (layer positions and thickness, density jumps) are derived for the displacements of both modes of internal waves and for each interface between the layers. These equations are integrable for a very limited set of coefficients and do not allow for proper description of several near-critical cases when certain coefficients vanish. A more specific equation allowing for a variety of solitonic solutions and capable of resolving most of near-critical situations is derived by means of the introduction of another small parameter that describes the properties of the medium and rescaling of the ratio of small parameters. This procedure leads to a pair of implicitly interrelated alternatives of Gardner equation (KdV-type equations with combined nonlinearity) for the two interfaces. We present a detailed analysis of the relationships for the solutions for the disturbances at both interfaces and various regimes of the appearance and propagation properties of soliton solutions to these equations depending on the combinations of the parameters of the fluid. It is shown both the quadratic and the cubic nonlinear terms vanish for several realistic configurations of such a fluid.

Trapped internal waves over undular topography

1991 ◽  
Vol 226 ◽  
pp. 205-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Kranenburg ◽  
J. D. Pietrzak ◽  
G. Abraham
Keyword(s):  
Internal Wave ◽  
Internal Waves ◽  
Large Amplitude ◽  
Bottom Topography ◽  
Stratified Flow ◽  
Wave Mode ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Trapped Waves ◽  
Acoustic Images ◽  
The Waves

We describe observations of slowly decelerating stratified flow over undular bottom topography in an estuary. The flow, which initially was supercritical with respect to the first internal wave mode, approached a resonance after it had become subcritical. A series of acoustic images showed large-amplitude first-mode trapped waves during this phase of the tide. We derive a criterion for quasi-steady response, and present an extension of Yih's class II linear finite-amplitude solutions that accounts for the waves observed.

On the shape of progressive internal waves

1968 ◽  
Vol 263 (1145) ◽  
pp. 563-614 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Internal Waves ◽  
Gravity Waves ◽  
Boussinesq Approximation ◽  
Internal Gravity Waves ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Fluid System ◽  
Expansion Technique ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Two Fluid

An expansion technique, analogous to that of Stokes in the study of surface waves, is used to investigate the effects of finite amplitude on a progressive train of internal gravity waves. The paper is divided into two main parts, a study of interfacial waves in a two-fluid system and an examination of internal waves in a continuously stratified fluid. Experimental evidence is presented which confirms some of the theoretical predictions. The validity of the Boussinesq approximation is examined and particular examples are taken to illustrate the general results.

Kelvin–Helmholtz instability of finite amplitude

1970 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Drazin
Keyword(s):  
Present Theory ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Incompressible Fluids ◽  
Unstable Wave ◽  
Helmholtz Instability ◽  
A Value ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Waves ◽  
Lower Stream

Non-linear Kelvin–Helmholtz instability, of two parallel horizontal streams of inviscid incompressible fluids under the action of gravity, is studied theoretically. The lower stream is denser and there is surface tension between the streams. Some progressing waves of finite amplitude are found as the development of a slightly unstable wave of infinitesimal amplitude. In particular, the non-linear elevation of the interface between the fluids is calculated. The finite amplitude of the waves does not equilibrate to a constant after a long time, but varies periodically with time. In practice, slight dissipation should lead to equilibration at an amplitude close to a value given by the present theory.

scholarly journals Propagation regimes of interfacial solitary waves in a three-layer fluid

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. E. Kurkina ◽  
A. A. Kurkin ◽  
E. A. Rouvinskaya ◽  
T. Soomere
Keyword(s):  
Internal Waves ◽  
Fluid Layer ◽  
Soliton Solutions ◽  
Boussinesq Approximation ◽  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Stable Configuration ◽  
Weakly Nonlinear ◽  
Small Parameters ◽  
Specific Equation ◽  
Kdv Type Equations

Abstract. Long weakly nonlinear finite-amplitude internal waves in a fluid consisting of three inviscid layers of arbitrary thickness and constant densities (stable configuration, Boussinesq approximation) bounded by a horizontal rigid bottom from below and by a rigid lid at the surface are described up to the second order of perturbation theory in small parameters of nonlinearity and dispersion. First, a pair of alternatives of appropriate KdV-type equations with the coefficients depending on the parameters of the fluid (layer positions and thickness, density jumps) are derived for the displacements of both modes of internal waves and for each interface between the layers. These equations are integrable for a very limited set of coefficients and do not allow for proper description of several near-critical cases when certain coefficients vanish. A more specific equation allowing for a variety of solitonic solutions and capable of resolving most near-critical situations is derived by means of the introduction of another small parameter that describes the properties of the medium and rescaling of the ratio of small parameters. This procedure leads to a pair of implicitly interrelated alternatives of Gardner equations (KdV-type equations with combined nonlinearity) for the two interfaces. We present a detailed analysis of the relationships for the solutions for the disturbances at both interfaces and various regimes of the appearance and propagation properties of soliton solutions to these equations depending on the combinations of the parameters of the fluid. It is shown that both the quadratic and the cubic nonlinear terms vanish for several realistic configurations of such a fluid.

Internal waves in a viscous atmosphere

1975 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 773-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. L. Chang ◽  
T. N. Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Incompressible Fluid ◽  
Internal Waves ◽  
Infinite Number ◽  
Similarity Solution ◽  
Small Amplitude ◽  
Horizontal Plane ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
The Waves ◽  
Isothermal Atmosphere

The way in which internal waves change in amplitude as they propagate through an incompressible fluid or an isothermal atmosphere is considered. A similarity solution for the small amplitude isolated viscous internal wave which is generated by a localized two-dimensional disturbance or energy source was given by Thomas & Stevenson (1972). It will be shown how summations or superpositions of this solution may be used to examine the behaviour of groups of internal waves. In particular the paper considers the waves produced by an infinite number of sources distributed in a horizontal plane such that they produce a sinusoidal velocity distribution. The results of this analysis lead to a new small perturbation solution of the linearized equations.

scholarly journals A Simple Construction of a Thermodynamically Consistent Mathematical Model for Non-Isothermal Flows of Dilute Compressible Polymeric Fluids

Fluids ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
Mark Dostalík ◽  
Josef Málek ◽  
Vít Průša ◽  
Endre Süli
Keyword(s):  
Finite Amplitude ◽  
Homogeneous State ◽  
Cauchy Stress ◽  
Polymeric Fluids ◽  
Classical Models ◽  
Explicit Formulae ◽  
Isothermal Flows ◽  
Elementary Manner ◽  
Production Mechanisms ◽  
Thermodynamic Basis

We revisit some classical models for dilute polymeric fluids, and we show that thermodynamically consistent models for non-isothermal flows of these fluids can be derived in a very elementary manner. Our approach is based on the identification of energy storage mechanisms and entropy production mechanisms in the fluid of interest, which, in turn, leads to explicit formulae for the Cauchy stress tensor and for all of the fluxes involved. Having identified these mechanisms and derived the governing equations, we document the potential use of the thermodynamic basis of the model in a rudimentary stability analysis. In particular, we focus on finite amplitude (nonlinear) stability of a stationary spatially homogeneous state in a thermodynamically isolated system.

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