Seminar - Brian Seymour - Resonant Interaction of a Surface Wave with two Interfacial Waves

Friday, December 8, 2004, 1.10 - 1.50 pm
Civil Engineering Lecture Room 3

Abstract

Re-suspension of fluid mud found at the bottom of lakes and estuaries can be the result of surface wave action triggering instabilities at the interface between the fluid mud and the overlying water. Energy transfer from the surface wave can cause interfacial waves to grow, leading to mixing between the layers.

The results of a theoretical and experimental study of a resonant interaction between a surface wave and two interfacial waves are discussed. It is shown that the motion of a surface wave in a two-layer fluid can lead to excitation and growth of two interfacial waves, and eventually mixing of the two layers. A perturbation technique is employed to solve the governing non-linear equations to second order, and experimental results are presented.