TY - JOUR
T1 - Particle trajectories in nonlinear gravity-capillary waves
AU - Hogan, S. J.
PY - 1985/1/1
Y1 - 1985/1/1
N2 - The trajectories of surface and subsurface particles of nonlinear gravity-capillary waves are calculated. Surface tension is found to have a small effect on the trajectories and drift velocity of pure gravity waves (down to 20 cm in length). On the other hand, pure capillary wave trajectories can be considerably altered even when the influence of gravity is small (waves of up to 2 cm in length). When the restoring forces are of comparable magnitude, some remarkable trajectories are possible, containing one or more subloops. Overall, the influence of increased surface tension is to increase the relative horizontal distance travelled by a particle, as well as the magnitude of the time-averaged drift velocity ratio at the surface and, as far as short waves are concerned, its penetration depth. These results can have implications for steep waves where parasitic capillaries are generated and for observations of the wind-drift current.
AB - The trajectories of surface and subsurface particles of nonlinear gravity-capillary waves are calculated. Surface tension is found to have a small effect on the trajectories and drift velocity of pure gravity waves (down to 20 cm in length). On the other hand, pure capillary wave trajectories can be considerably altered even when the influence of gravity is small (waves of up to 2 cm in length). When the restoring forces are of comparable magnitude, some remarkable trajectories are possible, containing one or more subloops. Overall, the influence of increased surface tension is to increase the relative horizontal distance travelled by a particle, as well as the magnitude of the time-averaged drift velocity ratio at the surface and, as far as short waves are concerned, its penetration depth. These results can have implications for steep waves where parasitic capillaries are generated and for observations of the wind-drift current.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0022015388&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S002211208500088X
DO - 10.1017/S002211208500088X
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
AN - SCOPUS:0022015388
VL - 151
SP - 105
EP - 119
JO - Journal of Fluid Mechanics
JF - Journal of Fluid Mechanics
SN - 0022-1120
ER -