Subcritical Rossby Waves in Zonal Shear Flows with Nonlinear Critical Layers

It was shown by Benney and Bergeron [ 1 ] that singular neutral modes with nonlinear critical layers are mathematically possible in a variety of shear flows. These are usually subcritical modes; i.e., they occur at values of the flow parameters where their linear, viscous counterparts would be damped. One question raised then is how such modes might be generated.
This article treats the problem of Rossby waves propagating in a mixing layer with velocity profile ū = tanh y . The beta parameter, which is a measure of the stabilizing Coriolis force, is taken to be large enough so that linear instability cannot occur. First, computed dispersion curves are presented for singular modes with nonlinear critical layers. Then, full numerical simulations are employed to illustrate how these modes can be generated by resonant interaction with conventional nonsingular Rossby waves, even when the singular mode is absent initially.     

Evolution Equations for Long,Nonlinear Internal Waves in Stratified Shear Flows

Evolution equations for long, nonlinear internal waves are derived when the basic stratified shear flow has a slow temporal and spatial variation as well as the usual dependence on the vertical coordinate. When the horizontal waveguide has a limited vertical extent the evolution equation is a variable coefficient Korteweg-deVries equation, while in the deep fluid case the evolution equation is a variable coefficient Benjamin-Davis-Ono equation. Explicit expressions are obtained for the coefficients of these equations.     

Nonlinear Cusped Caustics for Dispersive Waves

A multiple-scale perturbation analysis for slowly varying weakly nonlinear dispersive waves predicts that the wave number breaks or folds and becomes triple-valued. This theory has some difficulties, since the wave amplitude becomes infinite. Energy first focuses along a cusped caustic (an envelope of the rays or characteristics). The method of matched asymptotic expansions shows that a thin focusing region with relatively large wave amplitudes, valid near the cusped caustic, is described by the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NSE). Solutions of the NSE are obtained from an asymptotic expansion of an equivalent linear singular integral equation related to a Riemann-Hilbert problem. In this way connection formulas before and after focusing are derived. We show that a slowly varying nearly monochromatic wave train evolves into a triple-phased slowly varying similarity solution of the NSE. Three weakly nonlinear waves are simultaneously superimposed after focusing, giving meaning to a triple-valued wave number. Nonlinear phase shifts are obtained which reduce to the linear phase shifts previously described by the asymptotic expansion of a Pearcey integral.     

The Evolution in Space and Time of Nonlinear Waves in Parallel Shear Flows

It is shown, using a quite general formulation, that the amplitude evolution equation for slowly varying finite amplitude waves is usually first order in both space and time. One advantage of the present formulation is that it becomes possible to easily identify, from their linear eigensolutions, interesting exceptional cases in which the amplitude evolves according to a partial differential equation that is second order in either space or time. The theory is applied to a number of specific problems, including flows with broken line profiles, and inviscid shear flows having nonlinear critical layers.     

A Note on Resonance and Nonlinear Dispersive Waves

The general theory for the slow dispersion of nonlinear wave trains, first studied by Whitham, is applied to a wave train, which, in the weakly nonlinear limit, exhibits resonant singularities. Numerical and perturbation methods are used to develop singly periodic solutions both away from and near all such critical values. Similarly, the equations governing the slow modulations of such a system are found by asymptotic analysis. The expansions are found to be valid so long as the wave train is sufficiently nonlinear. These ideas should be applicable to other problems where resonant singularities arise, in particular, multiphase modes.     

Finite-amplitude Rotational Waves in Viscous Shear Flows

Growing finite-amplitude initially spanwise-independent two-dimensional rotational waves and their nonlinear interaction with unidirectional viscous shear flows of various strengths are considered. Both primary and secondary instabilities are studied, but only secondary instabilities are permitted to vary in the spanwise direction. A generalized Lagrangian-mean formulation is employed to describe wave-mean interactions, and a separate theory is constructed to account for the back effect of the developing mean flow on the wave field. Viscosity is seen to significantly complicate calculation of the back effect. The primary instability is seen to act as a platform for, and catalyst to, secondary instabilities. The analysis leads to an eigenvalue problem for the initial growth of the secondary instability, this being a generalization of the eigenvalue problem constructed by Craik for inviscid neutral waves. Two inviscid secondary instability mechanisms to longitudinal vortex form are observed: the first has as its basis the Craik–Leibovich type 2 mechanism. The second, which is as yet unproven, requires that both the wave and flow field distort in concert at all levels of shear. Both mechanisms excite exponential growth on a convective rather than diffusive scale in the presence of neutral waves, but growing waves alter that growth rate.     

Some Results for Surface Gravity Waves on Shear Flows

This work attempts to fill some gaps in the subject of steadysurface gravity waves on two-dimensional flows in which thevelocity varies with depth, as is the case for waves propagatingon a flowing stream. Following most previous work the theoryis basically inviscid, for the shear is assumed to be producedby external effects: the theory examines the non-viscous interactionbetween wave disturbances and the shear flow. In particular,some results are obtained for the dispersion relationship forsmall waves on a flow of arbitrary velocity distribution, andthis is generalized to include the decay from finite disturbancesinto supercritical flows. An exact operator equation is developedfor all surface gravity waves for the particular case of flowwith constant vorticity; this is solved to give first-orderequations for solitary and cnoidal waves in terms of channelflow invariants. Exact numerical solutions are obtained for small waves on sometypical shear flows, and it is shown how the theory can predictthe growth of periodic waves upon a stream by the developmentof a fully-turbulent velocity profile in flow which was originallyirrotational and supercritical. Results from all sections of this work show that shear is animportant quantity in determining the propagation behaviourof waves and disturbances. Small changes in the primary flowmay alter the nature of the surface waves considerably. Theymay in fact transform the waves from one type to another, correspondingto changes in the flow between super- and sub-critical statesdirectly caused by changes in the velocity profile.     

Dispersive Nonlinear Waves in Two-Layer Flows with Free Surface. I. Model Derivation and General Properties

In this paper we derive an approximate multi-dimensional model of dispersive waves propagating in a two-layer fluid with free surface. This model is a "two-layer" generalization of the Green–Naghdi model. Our derivation is based on Hamilton's principle. From the Lagrangian for the full-water problem we obtain an approximate Lagrangian with accuracy O (ɛ²) , where ɛ is the small parameter representing the ratio of a typical vertical scale to a typical horizontal scale. This approach allows us to derive governing equations in a compact and symmetric form. Important properties of the model are revealed. In particular, we introduce the notion of generalized vorticity and derive analogues of integrals of motion, such as Bernoulli integrals, which are well known in ideal Fluid Mechanics. Conservation laws for the total momentum and total energy are also obtained.     

Instability of Three Dimensional Waves in Shear Flows

The instability of a shear flow is greatly affected by the presence of one or more preexisting waves. This problem is considered for an oblique wave on a parallel shear flow with a free surface. The analysis uses a mean flow first harmonic theory.     

Weakly Nonlinear Dispersive Waves under Parametric Resonance Perturbation

We consider a solution of the nonlinear Klein–Gordon equation perturbed by a parametric driver. The frequency of parametric perturbation varies slowly and passes through a resonant value, which leads to a solution change. We obtain a new connection formula for the asymptotic solution before and after the resonance.     

Weakly Nonlinear Internal Waves in Shear

An evolution equation in a finite depth fluid for weakly nonlinear long internal waves is derived in a stratified and sheared medium. The equation reduces to the Korteweg-deVries equation when the depth is small compared to the wavelength, and to the Benjamin-Ono equation when the depth is large compared to the wavelength. Both the cases with and without critical levels are investigated. Numerical solutions to the evolution equation are presented to illustrate the effect of shear on the evolution of a waveform.     

The Evolution of Multi-Phase Modes for Nonlinear Dispersive Waves

A method is devised to study the evolution of a system of waves which locally have a multiply periodic structure. The present theory generalizes the results obtained by Whitham for the development of a single periodic wave train subject to large scale variations. The interactions are fully nonlinear.     

Exact Simple Waves on Shear Flows in a Compressible Barotropic Medium

Self-similar solutions describing simple waves on shear flows in a finite compressible barotropic atmosphere are found. These include the simple waves on shear flows in water as a special case. By making use of a number of transformations it becomes possible to write these solutions in an exact form. This form, though not explicit, is similar to the incomplete Beta function which seems to characterize this class of nonlinear physical problems.     

Periodic Oscillations and Waves in Nonlinear Weakly Coupled Dispersive Systems

Bifurcations of periodic solutions in autonomous nonlinear systems of weakly coupled equations are studied. A comparative analysis is carried out between the mechanisms of Lyapunov–Schmidt reduction of bifurcation equations for solutions close to harmonic oscillations and cnoidal waves. Sufficient conditions for the branching of orbits of solutions are formulated in terms of the Pontryagin functional depending on perturbing terms.     

A New Class of Nonlinear Waves in Parallel Flows

Waves in parallel shear flows are found to have different characteristics depending on whether nonlinear or viscous effects dominate near the critical layer. In this paper a nonlinear theory is developed which gives rise to a class of disturbances not found in the classical viscous theory. It is suggested that the modes found from such an analysis may be of importance in the breakdown of laminar flow due to free stream disturbances.     

A Model Equation Illustrating Subcritical Instability to Long Waves in Shear Flows

A model equation somewhat more general than Burger's equation has been employed by Herron [1] to gain insight into the stability characteristics of parallel shear flows. This equation, namely, u_t + uu_y = u_xx + u_yy, has an exact solution U(y) = ?2tanh y. It was shown in [1] that this solution is linearly stable, and more recently, Galdi and Herron [3] have proved conditional stability to finite perturbations of sufficiently small initial amplitude using energy methods. The present study utilizes multiple-scaling methods to derive a nonlinear evolution equation for a long-wave perturbation whose amplitude varies slowly in space and time. A transformation to the heat-conduction equation has been found which enables this amplitude equation to be solved exactly. Although all disturbances ultimately decay due to diffusion, it is found that subcritical instability is possible in that realistic disturbances of finite initial amplitude can amplify substantially before finally decaying. This behavior is probably typical of perturbations to shear flows of practical interest, and the results illustrate deficiencies of the energy method.     

The Evolution of Nonlinear Wave Trains in Stratified Shear Flows

The propagation of an internal wave train in a stratified shear flow is investigated for a Boussinesq fluid in a horizontal channel. Linear effects are primarily reflected in the dispersion relation for the various modes. The phenomenon of Eckart resonance occurs for more realistic stratification profiles. The evolution of nonlinear internal wave packets is studied through a systematic perturbation analysis. A nonlinear Schrodinger equation for the envelope of the internal wave train is derived. Depending on the relative sign of the dispersive and nonlinear terms, a wave train may disperse or form an envelope soliton. The analysis demonstrates the existence of two types of critical layers: one the ordinary critical point where ū=c, while the other occurs where ū=c_g. In order to calculate the coefficients of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation a numerical code has been developed which computes the second-harmonic and induced mean motions. The existence of these envelope solitons and their dependence on environmental conditions are discussed.