Phase velocity spectrum of internal waves in a weakly-stratified two-layer fluid

The problem of steady-state internal waves in a weakly stratified two-layer fluid with a density that is constant in the lower layer and depends exponentially on the depth in the upper layer is considered. The spectral properties of the equations of small perturbations of a homogeneous piecewise-constant flow are described. A nonlinear ordinary differential equation describing solitary waves and smooth bores on the layer interface is obtained using the Boussinesq expansion in a small parameter.     

Asymptotic models of internal stationary waves

Equations of stationary long waves on the interface between a homogeneous fluid and an exponentially stratified fluid are considered. An equation of the second-order approximation of the shallow water theory inheriting the dispersion properties of the full Euler equations is used as the basic model. A family of asymptotic submodels is constructed, which describe three different types of bifurcation of solitary waves at the boundary points of the continuous spectrum of the linearized problem. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 151–161, July–August, 2008.     

Solitary waves in stratified fluids and their interaction

A systematic procedure is proposed for obtaining solutions for solitary waves in stratified fluids. The stratification of the fluid is assumed to be exponential or linear. Its comparison with existing results for an exponentially stratified fluid shows agreement, and it is found that for the odd series of solutions the direction of displacement of the streamlines from their asymptotic levels is reversed when the stratification is changed from exponential to linear. Finally the interaction of solitary waves is considered, and the Korteweg-de Vries equation and the Boussinesq equation are derived. Thus the known solutions of these equations can be relied upon to provide the answers to the interaction problem.     

Modeling of long nonlinear waves on the interface in a horizontal two-layer viscous channel flow

The dynamics of two-dimensional waves of small but finite amplitude are theoretically studied for the case of a two-layer system bounded by a horizontal top and bottom. It is shown that for relatively large steady-state flow velocities and at certain fluid depth ratios the vertical velocity profile is nonlinear. An evolutionary equation governing the fluid interface disturbances and allowing for the long-wave contributions of the layer inertia and surface tension, the weak nonlinearity of the waves, and the unsteady friction on all the boundaries of the system is derived. Steady-state solutions of the cnoidal and solitary wave type for the disturbed flow are determined without regard for dissipation losses. It is found that the magnitude and the direction of the flow can alter not only the lengths of the waves but also their polarity.__________Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Academii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, 2005, pp. 143–158. Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Arkhipov and Khabakhpashev.     

Numerical simulation of plane and spatial nonlinear stationary waves in a two-layer fluid of arbitrary depth

The solution of a model differential equation for the three-dimensional perturbations of the interface between two immiscible fluids of different densities lying between a stationary nondeformable bottom and cover is presented. It is assumed that the waves have an arbitrary length and small, though finite, amplitude. The shapes of stationary traveling internal waves, both periodic in the two horizontal coordinates and soliton-like, are presented. These shapes depend on different parameters of the problem: the direction of the perturbation wave vector and the fluid layer depth and density ratios.     

Evolution of long nonlinear waves on the interface of a stratified viscous fluid flow in a channel

The dynamics of disturbances of the interface between two layers of incompressible immiscible fluids of different densities in the presence of a steady flow between the horizontal bottom and lid is studied analytically and numerically. A model integrodifferential equation is derived, which takes into account long-wave contributions of inertial layers and surface tension of the fluids, small but finite amplitude of disturbances, and unsteady shear stresses on all boundaries. Numerical solutions of this equation are given for the most typical nonlinear problems of transformation of both plane waves of different lengths and solitary waves. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 48, No. 4, pp. 49–61, July–August, 2007.     

Solitary waves at the interface of a two-layer fluid

In this paper, we discuss the solitary waves at the interface of a two-layer incompressible inviscid fluid confined by two horizontal rigid walls, taking the effect of surface tension into account. First of all, we establish the basic equations suitable for the model considered, and hence derive the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation satisfied by the first-order elevation of the interface with the aid of the reductive perturbation method under the approximation of weak dispersion. It is found that the KdV solitary waves may be convex upward or downward. It depends on whether the signs of the coefficients and of the KdV equation are the same or not. Then we examine in detail two critical cases, in which the nonlinear effect and the dispersion effect cannot balance under the original approximation. Applying other appropriate approximations, we obtain the modified KdV equation for the critical case of first kind (=0), and conclude that solitary waves cannot exist in the case considered as >0, but may still occur as <0, being in the form other than that of the KdV solitary wave.As for the critical case of second kind (=0), we deduce the generalized KdV equation, for which a kind of oscillatory solitary waves may occur. In addition, we discuss briefly the near-critical cases. The conclusions in this paper are in good agreement with some classical results which are extended considerably.     

Validity ranges of interfacial wave theories in a two-layer fluid system

In the present paper, we endeavor to accomplish a diagram, which demarcates the validity ranges for interfacial wave theories in a two-layer system, to meet the needs of design in ocean engineering. On the basis of the available solutions of periodic and solitary waves, we propose a guideline as principle to identify the validity regions of the interfacial wave theories in terms of wave period T, wave height H, upper layer thickness d ₁, and lower layer thickness d ₂, instead of only one parameter–water depth d as in the water surface wave circumstance. The diagram proposed here happens to be Le Méhauté’s plot for free surface waves if water depth ratio r = d ₁/d ₂ approaches to infinity and the upper layer water density ρ ₁ to zero. On the contrary, the diagram for water surface waves can be used for two-layer interfacial waves if gravity acceleration g in it is replaced by the reduced gravity defined in this study under the condition of σ = (ρ ₂ − ρ ₁)/ρ ₂ → 1.0 and r > 1.0. In the end, several figures of the validity ranges for various interfacial wave theories in the two-layer fluid are given and compared with the results for surface waves. The project supported by the Knowledge Innovation Project of CAS (KJCX-YW-L02), the National 863 Project of China (2006AA09A103-4), China National Oil Corporation in Beijing (CNOOC), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10672056).     

Generation of internal waves by a turbulent jet in a stratified fluid

The process of generation of internal waves by an initially cylindrical, turbulent jet with a Gaussian profile of the average horizontal velocity component in a fluid with stable linear density stratification is investigated by direct numerical simulation. It is shown that on time intervals Nt < 30, where N is the buoyancy frequency, the vertical velocity pulsations collapse, which is accompanied by the generation of internal waves whose spatial period is close to the wavelength of the spiral mode of jet instability in a homogeneous fluid. The wave dynamics and kinematics can be satisfactorily described by the linear theory for a pulsed source and their parameters are in good agreement with the parameters of the “coherent” internal waves generated by a stratified wake in a laboratory experiment. At large times the wave generation ceases and the variations of the fluid density are localized in the neighborhood of the centers of large-scale vortices formed in the horizontal plane in the neighborhood of the jet.     

Conjugate shear flows of a weakly stratified fluid

This paper studies the problem of pairs of horizontal shear flows of weakly stratified fluids with identical mass, momentum, and energy fluxes. The initial problem is reduced to a system of two scalar equations for the main- and perturbed-flow parameters by using bifurcation methods. The existence conditions for nontrivial branches of conjugate flows close to the main flow are investigated. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 50, No. 2, pp. 79–88, March–April, 2009.     

Solitary waves on the surface of a viscoelastic fluid running down an inclined plane

In this paper, we study the existence and the role of solitary waves in the finite amplitude instability of a layer of a second-order fluid flowing down an inclined plane. The layer becomes unstable for disturbances of large wavelength for a critical value of Reynolds number which decreases with increase in the viscoelastic parameter M. The long-term evolution of a disturbance with an initial cosinusoidal profile as a result of this instability reveals the existence of a train of solitary waves propagating on the free surface. A novel result of this study is that the number of solitary waves decreases with in crease in M. When surface tension is large, we use dynamical system theory to describe solitary waves in a moving frame by homoclinic trajectories of an associated ordinary differential equation.     

两层流体中水波在垂直薄板上的反射与透射

研究在两层流体中表面波模态和内波模态的波浪与半潜式刚性垂直薄板 相互作用的问题. 基于特征函数展开理论,建立了两种模态入射波作用下,半潜式刚性垂直 薄板的反射与透射能量的计算方法,证明了对每一种模态的入射波,另一种模态波浪的反射 与透射能量是相等的. 对水面漂浮和座底半潜式薄板的反射与透射能量,以及作用在其上的 水平波浪力进行了数值计算分析,表明在某个频率范围内,流体的分层效应对这些水动力 量的影响是不可忽视的. 特别地,当薄板的一端位于两层流体的内界面上时,两种模态波浪 的能量转化是最大的.     

Impact on the boundary of a compressible two-layer fluid

Within the framework of the acoustic approximation a solution of the plane nonstationary problem of impact on a fluid boundary is found. The fluid occupies the lower half-plane and consists of two layers with given speeds of sound and densities. The upper layer has a constant depth and is bounded above by a plate with a given normal velocity. The solution is constructed using the Fourier and Laplace integral transforms. Numerical calculations are performed for piston impact across a rigid screen and the impact of a jet with an aerated head on a rigid wall. It is shown that the presence of an interlayer with reduced speed of sound and/or density considerably changes the evolution of the hydrodynamic pressure distribution over the impacting surface: the absolute pressure maximum decreases but pressures of significant amplitude are maintained for a longer time than for a homogeneous fluid.     

Solitary waves in initially stressed thin elastic tubes

In the present work, we study the propagation of non-linear waves in an initially stressed thin elastic tube filled with an inviscid fluid. Considering the physiological conditions of the arteries, in the analysis, the tube is assumed to be subjected to a uniform inner pressure P₀ and an axial stretch ratio λ_z. It is assumed that due to blood flow, a finite dynamical displacement field is superimposed on this static field and, then, the non-linear governing equations of the elastic tube are obtained. Using the reductive perturbation technique, the propagation of weakly non-linear waves in the longwave approximation is investigated. It is shown that the governing equations reduce to the Korteweg-deVries equation which admits a solitary wave solution. It is observed that the present model equations give two solitary wave solutions. The results are also discussed for some elastic materials existing in the literature.     

Analysis of current induced by long internal solitary waves in stratified ocean

An approximate theoretical expression for the current induced by long internal solitary waves is presented when the ocean is continuously or two-layer stratified. Particular attention is paid to characterizing velocity fields in terms of magnitude, flow components, and their temporal evolution/spatial distribution. For the two-layer case, the effects of the upper/lower layer depths and the relative layer density difference upon the induced current are further studied. The results show that the horizontal components are basically uniform in each layer with a shear at the interface. In contrast, the vertical counterparts vary monotonically in the direction of the water depth in each layer while they change sign across the interface or when the wave peak passes through. In addition, though the vertical components are generally one order of magnitude smaller than the horizontal ones, they can never be neglected in predicting the heave response of floating platforms in gravitationally neutral balance. Comparisons are made between the partial theoretical results and the observational field data. Future research directions regarding the internal wave induced flow field are also indicated.     

Head-on collision between two mKdV solitary waves in a two-layer fluid system

In this paper, based on the equations presented in [2], the head-on collision between two solitary waves described by the modified KdV equation (the mKdV equation, for short) is investigated by using the reductive perturbation method combined with the PLK method. These waves propagate at the interface of a two-fluid system, in which the density ratio of the two fluids equals the square of the depth ratio of the fluids. The second order perturbation solution is obtained. It is found that in the case of disregarding the nonuniform phase shift, the solitary waves preserve their original profiles after collision, which agrees with Fornberg and Whitham's numerical result of overtaking collision161 whereas after considering the nonuniform phase shift, the wave profiles may deform after collision.     

On head-on collison between two gKdV solitary waves in a stratified fluid

In this paper, using the reductive perturbation method combined with the PLK method and two- parameter expansions, we treat the problem of head- on collision between two solitary waves described by the generalized Korteweg- de Vries equation (the gKdV equation) and obtain its second-order approximate solution. The results show that after the collision, the gKdV solitary waves preserve their profiles and during the collision, the maximum amplitute is the linear superposition of two maximum amplitudes of the impinging solitary waves.     

Breaking and cascade of internal gravity waves in a continuously stratified fluid

The evolution of a few large scale high frequency standing internal waves confined to a vertical plane is studied numerically. The growth of nonlinear interactions leads to a transfer of energy toward small vertical scales and lower frequencies: the result is a steep energy decrease due to wave breaking. Induced mixing is evaluated. A parametric forcing is also introduced in order to compare with laboratory experiments. Wave breaking also occurs but as opposed to the unforced case different phases are next observed: internal wave growth due to constructive forcing alternate with energy decrease.     

Complementary mild-slope equations in a two-layer fluid

Mild-slope (MS) type equations are depth-integrated models, which predict under appropriate conditions refraction and diffraction of linear time-harmonic water waves. By using a streamfunction formulation instead of a velocity potential one, the complementary mild-slope equation (CMSE) was shown to give better agreement with exact linear theory compared to other MS-type equations. The main goal of this work is to extend the CMSE model for solving two-layer flow with a free-surface. In order to allow for an exact reference, an analytical solution for a two-layer fluid over a sloping plane beach is derived. This analytical solution is used for validating the results of the approximated MS-type models. It is found that the two-layer CMSE model performs better than the potential based one. In addition, the new model is used for investigating the scattering of linear surface water waves and interfacial ones over variable bathymetry.     

Nonlinear traveling waves in a compressible Mooney-Rivlin rod I. Long finite-amplitude waves

In literature, nonlinear traveling waves in elastic circular rods have only been studied based on single partial differential equation (pde) models, and here we consider such a problem by using a more accurate coupled-pde model. We derive the Hamiltonian from the model equations for the long finite-amplitude wave approximation, analyze how the number of singular points of the system changes with the parameters, and study the features of these singular points qualitatively. Various physically acceptable nonlinear traveling waves are also discussed, and corresponding examples are given. In particular, we find that certain waves, which cannot be counted by the single-equation model, can arise. The project supported by the Research Grants Council of the HKSAR, China (City U 1107/99P) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10372054 and 10171061)