Observations of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability at the air-water interface in a circular domain

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Title: Observations of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability at the air-water interface in a circular domain
Author(s): Bye, John A. T.; Ghantous, Malek
Abstract: We present an analysis of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in a circular domain in the limit of the azimuthal integer wavenumber, n → ∞ which reproduces the classical results for a rectilinear geometry at the rim, provided that the additional condition that the surface current to surface wind ratio is (ρ1/ρ2)1/2 where ρ1 and ρ2 are respectively the densities of air and water, is satisfied. Experiments were carried out in a circular rig of radius 0.19 m in which a family of unstable waveforms with n ≈ 60 were observed with properties (including the additional condition) in approximate agreement with theory. The additional condition is consistent with the absence of a surface shear stress in the instability process.
Publication type: Journal article
Research centre: Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences. Centre for Ocean Engineering, Science and Technology
Source: Physics of Fluids, Vol. 24, no. 3 (Mar 2012), article no. 032110
Publication year: 2012
FOR Code(s): 01 Mathematical Sciences; 02 Physical Sciences; 09 Engineering
Keyword(s): Air-water interface; Circular domain; Kelvin-Helmholtz instability
Publisher: American Institute of Physics
ISSN: 1070-6631
Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3697487
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