Abstract
A modified large-eddy simulation model, the dynamic coherent eddy model (DCEM) is employed to simulate the generation and propagation of internal solitary waves (ISWs) of both depression and elevation type, with wave amplitudes ranging from small, medium to large scales. The simulation results agree well with the existing experimental data. The generation process of ISWs is successfully captured by the DCEM method. Shear instabilities and diapycnal mixing in the initial wave generation phase are observed. The dissipation rate is not equal at different locations of an ISW. ISW-induced velocity field is analyzed in the present study. The structure of the bottom boundary layer (BBL) of internal wave packets is found to be different from that of a single ISW. A reverse boundary jet instead of a separation bubble exists behind the leading internal wave while separation bubbles appear in other parts of the wave-induced velocity field. The boundary jet flow resulting from the adverse pressure gradients has distinctive dynamics compared with free shear jets.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bogucki D, Redekopp L G. A mechanism for sediment resuspension by internal solitary waves. Geophys Res Lett, 1999, 26(9): 1317–1320
Diamessis P J, Redekopp L G. Numerical investigation of solitary internal wave-induced global instability in shallow water benthic boundary layers. J Phys Oceanogr, 2006, 36: 784–812
Carr M, Davies P A. The motion of an internal solitary wave of depression over a fixed bottom boundary in a shallow, two-layer fluid. Phys Fluid, 2006, 18(1): 016601–016610
Thiem Ø, Carr M, Berntsen J, et al. Numerical simulation of internal solitary wave-induced reverse flow and associated vortices in a shallow, two-layer fluid benthic boundary layer. Ocean Dyn, 2011, 61(6): 857–872
Bourgault D, Blokhina M D, Mirshak R, et al. Evolution of a shoaling internal solitary wavetrain. Geophys Res Lett, 2007, 34(3): L03601
Fructus D, Carr M, Grue J, et al. Shear-induced breaking of large internal solitary waves. J Fluid Mech, 2009, 620: 1–29
Troy C D, Koseff J R. The generation and quantitative visualization of breaking internal waves. Exp Fluids, 2005, 38(5): 549–562
Barad M F, Fringer O B. Simulations of shear instabilities in interfacial gravity waves. J Fluid Mech, 2010, 644: 61–95
Wood D J, Grue J. Modelling of high amplitude internal waves integrating the primitive (Navier-Stokes) equations. Appl Ocean Res, 2002, 24(6): 331–340
Small R J, Hornby R P. A comparison of weakly and fully non-linear models of the shoaling of a solitary internal wave. Ocean Model, 2005, 8(4): 395–416
Huai W X, Wu Z L, Qian Z D. Large eddy simulation of open channel flows with non-submerged vegetation. J Hydrodyn, 2011, 23(2): 258–264
Li Z W, Huai W X, Han J. Large eddy simulation of the interaction of wall jet and offset jet. J Hydrodyn, 2011, 23(5): 544–553
Yu G, Avital E, Willams J. Large eddy simulation of flow past free surface piercing circular cylinders. J Fluid Eng, 2008, 130(10): 101304
Lu J, Wang L L, Tang H W. Numerical investigation of vertical turbulent jets in different types of jets. China Ocean Eng, 2010, 24(4): 611–626
Germano M. Turbulence: The filtering approach. J Fluid Mech, 1992, 238: 325–336
Lin P Z, Li C W. A σ-coordinate three-dimensional numerical model for surface wave propagation. Int J Numer Meth Fluids, 2002, 38(11): 1045–1068
Chen C Y, Hsu J R, Cheng M H, et al. An investigation on internal solitary waves in a two-layer fluid: Propagation and reflection from steep slopes. Ocean Eng, 2007, 34(1): 171–184
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhu, H., Wang, L. & Tang, H. Large-eddy simulation of the generation and propagation of internal solitary waves. Sci. China Phys. Mech. Astron. 57, 1128–1136 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-013-5231-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-013-5231-1