The character of the equilibrium of an incompressible heavy viscous fluid of variable density: an approximate theory

Author(s):  
Raymond Hide

ABSTRACTThe equilibrium of a layer of a viscous incompressible fluid of density ρ variable in the vertical (z) direction, the fluid extending indefinitely in the horizontal directions and being confined between rigid horizontal boundaries, is examined by the usual method of studying the initial behaviour of a small disturbance. Diffusion effects are ignored. Chandra-sekhar has shown quite generally that a variational procedure for solving the resulting characteristic value problem is admissible, suggesting a method whereby an approximate solution can be obtained analytically. In this paper, by making use of appropriate approximate methods of solution, three types of density configuration, ρ(z), are studied. The first corresponds to two superposed fluids of great depth, the upper and lower fluids haying densities and coefficients of viscosity ρ2 and μ2, and ρ1 and μ1, respectively. Chandrasekhar has given an exact numerical solution to this problem for the case where μ2/ρ2 = μ1/ρ1 The results of the approximate theory, by which not all the boundary conditions can be satisfied, and the exact theory are in good agreement. Expressions for the wave-length and growth rate of the mode of maximum instability in the unstable case (ρ2 > ρ1) are found. The stable case (ρ2 > ρ1) is also discussed in detail; the formulae obtained for the phase and group velocities of gravity waves in deep viscous fluids are especially interesting. There is an upper limit to the natural frequency of oscillation of the system which would be well within the range of experimental investigation.The second problem considered is that of two superposed fluids of small depth. Formulae for the phase and group velocities of ‘long gravity waves’ (which are not equal when viscous effects are included) are obtained.Finally, a continuously stratified fluid of finite depth d in which ρ(z) = ρ0eβz is investigated. The character of the equilibrium depends on a Grashof number G = (gβd4)/(π4ν2) where g is the acceleration of gravity and ν is the coefficient of kinematical viscosity, assumed for simplicity to be constant. Expressions for the wave-length and growth rate of the mode of maximum instability in the unstable case (G > 0) are obtained. In the stable case (G < 0) all modes are aperiodically damped if – G < . Otherwise, the possibility of a disturbance being propagated as a horizontal wave does arise, but only within a limited wave-length range.

Author(s):  
W. H. Reid

ABSTRACTThe effect of surface tension on the stability of two superposed fluids can be described in a universal way by a non-dimensional ‘surface tension number’ S which provides a measure of the relative importance of surface tension and viscosity. When both fluids extend to infinity, the problem can be reduced to the finding of the roots of a quartic equation. The character of these roots is first analysed so as to obtain all possible modes of stability or instability. Two illustrative cases are then considered in further detail: an unstable case for which the density of the lower fluid is zero and a stable case for which the density of the upper fluid is zero, the latter case corresponding to gravity waves. Finally, the variational principle derived by Chandrasekhar for problems of this type is critically discussed and it is shown to be of less usefulness than had been thought, especially in those cases where periodic modes exist.


1968 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 923 ◽  
Author(s):  
RC Sharma ◽  
KM Srivastava

A general equation studying the combined effect of horizontal and vertical magnetic fields on the stability of two superposed fluids has been obtained. The unstable and stable cases at the interface (z = 0) between two uniform fluids, with both the possibilities of real and complex n, have been. separately dealt with. Some new results are obtained. In the unstable case with real n, the perturbations are damped or unstable according as 2(k'-k~L2)_(<X2-<Xl)k is> or < 0 under the physical situation (35). In the stable case, the perturbations are stable or unstable according as 2(k2_k~L2)+(<Xl-<X2)k is > or < 0 under the same physical situation (35). The perturbations become unstable if HIlIH 1- (= L) is large. Both the cases are also discussed with imaginary n.


2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pardeep Kumar ◽  
Mahinder Singh

The Rayleigh‐Taylor instability of a Newtonian viscous fluid overlying an Oldroydian viscoelastic fluid containing suspended particles is considered. As in both Newtonian viscous-viscous fluids, the system is stable in the potentially stable case and unstable in the potentially unstable case, this holds for the present problem also. The effect of a variable horizontal magnetic field is also considered. The presence of magnetic field stabilizes a certain wavenumber band, whereas the system is unstable for all wavenumbers in the absence of the magnetic field for the potentially unstable arrangement.


2021 ◽  
pp. 108128652110238
Author(s):  
Barış Erbaş ◽  
Julius Kaplunov ◽  
Isaac Elishakoff

A two-dimensional mixed problem for a thin elastic strip resting on a Winkler foundation is considered within the framework of plane stress setup. The relative stiffness of the foundation is supposed to be small to ensure low-frequency vibrations. Asymptotic analysis at a higher order results in a one-dimensional equation of bending motion refining numerous ad hoc developments starting from Timoshenko-type beam equations. Two-term expansions through the foundation stiffness are presented for phase and group velocities, as well as for the critical velocity of a moving load. In addition, the formula for the longitudinal displacements of the beam due to its transverse compression is derived.


Geophysics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 1162-1167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph B. Molyneux ◽  
Douglas R. Schmitt

Elastic‐wave velocities are often determined by picking the time of a certain feature of a propagating pulse, such as the first amplitude maximum. However, attenuation and dispersion conspire to change the shape of a propagating wave, making determination of a physically meaningful velocity problematic. As a consequence, the velocities so determined are not necessarily representative of the material’s intrinsic wave phase and group velocities. These phase and group velocities are found experimentally in a highly attenuating medium consisting of glycerol‐saturated, unconsolidated, random packs of glass beads and quartz sand. Our results show that the quality factor Q varies between 2 and 6 over the useful frequency band in these experiments from ∼200 to 600 kHz. The fundamental velocities are compared to more common and simple velocity estimates. In general, the simpler methods estimate the group velocity at the predominant frequency with a 3% discrepancy but are in poor agreement with the corresponding phase velocity. Wave velocities determined from the time at which the pulse is first detected (signal velocity) differ from the predominant group velocity by up to 12%. At best, the onset wave velocity arguably provides a lower bound for the high‐frequency limit of the phase velocity in a material where wave velocity increases with frequency. Each method of time picking, however, is self‐consistent, as indicated by the high quality of linear regressions of observed arrival times versus propagation distance.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akash Kharita ◽  
Sagarika Mukhopadhyay

&lt;p&gt;The surface wave phase and group velocities are estimated by dividing the epicentral distance by phase and group travel times respectively in all the available methods, this is based on the assumptions that (1) surface waves originate at the epicentre and (2) the travel time of the particular group or phase of the surface wave is equal to its arrival time to the station minus the origin time of the causative earthquake; However, both assumptions are wrong since surface waves generate at some horizontal distance away from the epicentre. We calculated the actual horizontal distance from the focus at which they generate and assessed the errors caused in the estimation of group and phase velocities by the aforementioned assumptions in a simple isotropic single layered homogeneous half space crustal model using the example of the fundamental mode Love wave. We took the receiver locations in the epicentral distance range of 100-1000 km, as used in the regional surface wave analysis, varied the source depth from 0 to 35 Km with a step size of 5 km and did the forward modelling to calculate the arrival time of Love wave phases at each receiver location. The phase and group velocities are then estimated using the above assumptions and are compared with the actual values of the velocities given by Love wave dispersion equation. We observed that the velocities are underestimated and the errors are found to be; decreasing linearly with focal depth, decreasing inversely with the epicentral distance and increasing parabolically with the time period. We also derived empirical formulas using MATLAB curve fitting toolbox that will give percentage errors for any realistic combination of epicentral distance, time period and depths of earthquake and thickness of layer in this model. The errors are found to be more than 5% for all epicentral distances lesser than 500 km, for all focal depths and time periods indicating that it is not safe to do regional surface wave analysis for epicentral distances lesser than 500 km without incurring significant errors. To the best of our knowledge, the study is first of its kind in assessing such errors.&lt;/p&gt;


1963 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonard E. Alsop

Abstract Periods of free vibrations of the spheroidal type have been calculated numerically on an IBM 7090 for the fundamental and first two shear modes for periods greater than about two hundred seconds. Calculations were made for four different earth models. Phase and group velocities were also computed and are tabulated herein for the first two shear modes. The behavior of particle motions for different modes is discussed. In particular, particle motions for the two shear modes indicate that they behave in some period ranges like Stoneley waves tied to the core-mantle interface. Calculations have been made also for a model which presumes a solid inner core and will be discussed in Part II. The two computer programs which were made for these calculations are described briefly.


1962 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 807-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. Kuo ◽  
John E. Nafe

abstract The problem of the Rayleigh wave propagation in a solid layer overlying a solid half space separated by a sinusoidal interface is investigated. The amplitude of the interface is assumed to be small in comparison to the average thickness of the layer or the wave length of the interface. Either by applying Rayleigh's approximate method or by perturbating the boundary conditions at the sinusoidal interface, plane wave solutions for the equations which satisfy the given boundary conditions are found to form a system of linear equations. These equations may be expressed in a determinant form. The period (or characteristic) equations for the first and second approximation of the wave number k are obtained. The phase and group velocities of Rayleigh waves in the present case depend upon both frequency and distance. At a given point on the surface, there is a local phase and local group velocity of Rayleigh waves that is independent of the direction of wave propagation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document