Modulation equations and Reynolds averaging for finite-amplitude non-linear waves in an incompressible fluid

A formal perturbation scheme is developed to determine originalmodulation equations for laminar finite-amplitude non-linearwaves in an incompressible fluid. Three idealized problems areanalysed. The modulation equations comprise conservation ofwaves, averaged conditions for conservation of mass, momentum,kinetic energy and angular momentum and the averaged projectionof the Navier–Stokes equations onto the vorticity vector.The last of these modulation equations, which is related tovortex stretching, only appears in 3D problems. The techniqueof Reynolds averaging is also employed to obtain equations forthe mean velocities and pressure. The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokesequations correspond to the modulation equations for conservationof mass and momentum. However, the Reynolds stress transportequations are shown to be inconsistent with the other necessarymodulation equations. In two further idealized problems, exactsolutions of the Navier–Stokes equations are obtainedby employing the modulation equations.