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On the realm of validity of strongly nonlinear asymptotic approximations for internal waves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2006

R. CAMASSA
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
W. CHOI
Affiliation:
Department of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA
H. MICHALLET
Affiliation:
Laboratoire des Ecoulements Géophysiques et Industriels, BP53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
P.-O. RUSÅS
Affiliation:
Faculty of Computer Sciences, Østfold University College, Norway
J. K. SVEEN
Affiliation:
Mechanics Division, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo, Norway

Abstract

Analytical and numerical results from recently developed strongly nonlinear asymptotic models are compared and validated with experimental observations of internal gravity waves and results from the numerical integrations of Euler equations for solitary waves at the interface of two-fluid systems. The focus of this investigation is on regimes where large amplitudes are attained, where the classical weakly nonlinear theories prove inadequate. Two asymptotically different regimes are examined in detail: shallow fluids, in which the typical wavelengths of the interface displacement are long with respect to the depths of both fluids, and deep fluids, where the wavelengths are comparable to, or less than, the depth of one of the two fluids. With the aim of illustrating the breakdown of the asymptotic assumptions, the transition from a shallow to a deep regime is examined through numerical computation of Euler system's solutions and by comparisons with solution to models.

Type
Papers
Copyright
© 2006 Cambridge University Press

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