Three-dimensional Wave Patterns Research Articles

A model of water wave ‘horse-shoe’ patterns

The work suggests a simple qualitative model of the wind wave ‘horse-shoe’ patterns often seen on the sea surface. The model is aimed at explaining the persistent character of the patterns and their specific asymmetric shape. It is based on the idea that the dominant physical processes are quintet resonant interactions, input due to wind and dissipation, which balance each other. These processes are described at the lowest order in nonlinearity. The consideration is confined to the most essential modes : the central (basic) harmonic and two symmetric oblique satellites, the most rapidly growing ones due to the class I1 instability. The chosen harmonics are phase locked, i.e. all the waves have equal phase velocities in the direction of the basic wave. This fact along with the symmetry of the satellites ensures the quasi-stationary character of the resulting patterns. Mathematically the model is a set of three coupled ordinary differential equations for the wave amplitudes. It is derived starting with the integro-differential formulation of water wave equations (Zakharov’s equation) modified by taking into account small (of order of quartic nonlinearity) non-conservative effects. In the derivation the symmetry properties of the unperturbed Hamiltonian system were used by taking special canonical transformations, which allow one exactly to reduce the Zakharov equation to the model. The study of system dynamics is focused on its qualitative aspects. It is shown that if the non-conservative effects are neglected one cannot obtain solutions describing persistent asymmetric patterns, but the presence of small non-conservative effects changes drastically the system dynamics at large times. The main new feature is attructive equilibria, which are essentially distinct from the conservative ones. For the existence of the attractors a balance between nonlinearity and non-conservative effects is necessary. A wide class of initial configurations evolves to the attractors of the system, providing a likely scenario for the emergence of the long-lived threedimensional wind wave patterns. The resulting structures reproduce all the main features of the experimentally observed horse-shoe patterns. In particular, the model provides the characteristic ‘crescent’ shape of the wave fronts oriented forward and the front-back asymmetry of the wave profiles.

On two approaches to the problem of instability of short-crested water waves

The work is concerned with the problem of the linear instability of symmetric short-crested water waves, the simplest three-dimensional wave pattern. Two complementary basic approaches were used. The first, previously developed by Ioualalen & Kharif (1993, 1994), is based on the application of the Galerkin method to the set of Euler equations linearized around essentially nonlinear basic states calculated using the Stokes-like series for the short-crested waves with great precision. An alternative analytical approach starts with the so-called Zakharov equation, i.e. an integro-differential equation for potential water waves derived by means of an asymptotic procedure in powers of wave steepness. Both approaches lead to the analysis of an eigenvalue problem of the type {\rm det}|{\boldmath A}-\gamma{\boldmath B}|=0 where A and B are infinite square matrices. The first approach should deal with matrices of quite general form although the problem is tractable numerically. The use of the proper canonical variables in our second approach turns the matrix B into the unit one, while the matrix A gets a very specific ‘nearly diagonal’ structure with some additional (Hamiltonian) properties of symmetry. This enables us to formulate simple necessary and sufficient a priori criteria of instability and to find instability characteristics analytically through an asymptotic procedure avoiding a number of additional assumptions that other authors were forced to accept.A comparison of the two approaches is carried out. Surprisingly, the analytical results were found to hold their validity for rather steep waves (up to steepness 0.4) for a wide range of wave patterns. We have generalized the classical Phillips concept of weakly nonlinear wave instabilities by describing the interaction between the elementary classes of instabilities and have provided an understanding of when this interaction is essential. The mechanisms of the relatively high stability of short-crested waves are revealed and explained in terms of the interaction between different classes of instabilities. A helpful interpretation of the problem in terms of an infinite chain of interacting linear oscillators was developed.

ON THE GENERATION OF SCROLL WAVES IN A THREE-DIMENSIONAL DISCRETE ACTIVE MEDIUM

This paper reports on the simulation, in three-dimensional cellular-neural-network (CNN) arrays of Chua’s circuits, of basic three-dimensional scroll wave patterns observed previously from other media. Among the simulated patterns are the straight scroll wave, twisted scroll wave in both homogeneous and inhomogeneous media, as well as the scroll ring. These types of waves have been obtained for only one set of circuit parameters by varying the initial conditions.

A Numerical Modeling of Ship Bow Waves

A two-dimensional numerical wavemaker model is used to predict the three-dimensional bow wave pattern caused by a wedge-shaped model moving at constant velocity. Solutions with linear and nonlinear free-surface conditions agree well with the experimental result. A formula derived from dimensional analysis is proved to be a good approximation of the numerical solution based on the linear formulation. A wave splashing phenomenon is predicted at high velocity by the nonlinear theory. The numerical results are compared with the analytic and experimental results reported by Ogilvie [1].2 The improvements given by the nonlinear formulations are observed to be in the correct direction.

Three-dimensional wave patterns generated by moving disturbances at transcritical speeds

Disturbances in the form of pressure fields, source distributions and time-dependent bottom topographies are discussed and found to produce similar wave patterns. Results obtained for wide channels are discussed in the light of the features of soliton reflection at a wall. Comparison with experiments shows excellent agreement. The introduction of radiation conditions enables long-time simulation of the development of wave patterns in infinite and semi-infinite fluids. A stationary wave pattern is also found to emerge for slightly supercritical Froude numbers, but contrary to linear results the leading divergent waves may originate ahead of the disturbance. This behaviour is due to nonlinear interactions similar to those governing collisions between solitons. This study on wave generation by a moving disturbance is based on numerical solutions of Boussinesq-type equations. The equations in their most general form are integrated by an implicit difference method. Strongly supercritical cases are described by a simplified set of equations which is solved by a semi-implicit difference scheme.

On the excitation of long nonlinear water waves by a moving pressure distribution. Part 2. Three-dimensional effects

The three-dimensional wave pattern generated by a moving pressure distribution of finite extent acting on the surface of water of depth h is studied. It is shown that, when the pressure distribution travels at a speed near the linear-long-wave speed, the response is governed by a forced nonlinear Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (KP) equation, which describes a balance between linear dispersive, nonlinear and three-dimensional effects. It is deduced that, in a channel of finite width 2w, three-dimensional effects are negligible if w [Lt ] h2/a, a being a typical wave amplitude; in such a case the governing equation reduces to the forced Korteweg-de Vries equation derived in previous studies. For aw/h2 = O(1), however, three-dimensional effects are important; numerical calculations based on the KP equation indicate that a series of straight-crested solitons are radiated periodically ahead of the source and a three-dimensional wave pattern forms behind. The predicted dependencies on channel width of soliton amplitude and period of soliton formation compare favourably with the experimental results of Ertekin, Webster & Wehausen (1984). In a channel for which aw/h2 [Gt ] 1, three-dimensional, unsteady disturbances appear-ahead of the pressure distribution.

Formation of three-dimensional structures on the transition to turbulence in boundary layers

Experiments have established that there are two main qualitatively different regimes of the transition from laminar to turbulent flow and an intermediate regime which possesses the characteristic features of both. These regimes reflect the different ways in which a two-dimensional wave pattern can be transformed into a three-dimensional one; they must be a consequence of the initial conditions. The aim of the investigation reported in the present work was to analyze these regimes by systematically varying the initial data, to demonstrate the possibility of controlling the nature of the transition, to obtain some data to test theoretical models of the development of three-dimensional wave patterns on transition, and to make further experimental investigations of the transition mechanisms.

Calculation of steady three-dimensional deep-water waves

Steady three-dimensional symmetric wave patterns for finite-amplitude gravity waves on deep water are calculated from the full unapproximated water-wave equations as well as from an approximate equation due to Zakharov. These solutions are obtained as bifurcations from plane Stokes waves. The results are in good agreement with the experimental observations of Su.

The reflection of pressure waves of finite amplitude from an open end of a duct

When plane pressure waves in a duct reach an open end, they establish a complicated three-dimensional wave pattern in the vicinity of the exit which tends to readjust the exit pressure to its steady-flow level. This adjustment process is continually modified by further incident waves, so that the effective instantaneous boundary conditions which determine the reflected wave depend on the flow history. In the analysis of a nonsteady-flow problem by means of a wave diagram, it has been customary to assume that the steady-flow boundary conditions are instantaneously established. While this simplifying assumption appears reasonable, the resulting errors have been undetermined. It is the purpose of the present investigation to obtain improved boundary conditions. The results of a previous study of the reflection of shock waves from an open end have now been extended to other waves of finite amplitude. The reflected waves computed by means of the new procedure are in good agreement with experimental data observed in a shock tube for a variety of flow conditions. The pressure variations in a reflected wave lag behind those derived in the conventional manner by the time in which a sound wave travels about one or two duct diameters. Such lags are small, but may occasionally become significant. As a consequence of the lag, certain discontinuities of the incident wave do not reappear in the reflected wave. This improved understanding of the reflection process has made it possible to clarify some previously unexplained experimental observations.