Experiments on mixing and dissipation in internal solitary waves over two triangular obstacles

A series of laboratory experiments was undertaken in a stratified two-layer fluid to investigate the energetics of the interaction between an internal solitary wave (ISW) and triangular obstacles, as well as to determine the partitioning of ISW energy and its subsequent dynamics. The ISW energy was...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental fluid mechanics (Dordrecht, Netherlands : 2001) Netherlands : 2001), 2008-06, Vol.8 (3), p.199-214
Main Authors: Chen, Chen-Yuan, Hsu, John R.-C., Cheng, Ming-Hung, Chen, Cheng-Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Classical Mechanics
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Energy
energy dissipation
Environmental Physics
Exact sciences and technology
Experiments
External geophysics
Fluid mechanics
Geophysics. Techniques, methods, instrumentation and models
Hydrogeology
Hydrology/Water Resources
Laboratory testing
Oceanography
Original Article
Q1
Studies
water depth
wave energy
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Summary:A series of laboratory experiments was undertaken in a stratified two-layer fluid to investigate the energetics of the interaction between an internal solitary wave (ISW) and triangular obstacles, as well as to determine the partitioning of ISW energy and its subsequent dynamics. The ISW energy was dissipated as a result of internal breaking and turbulent mixing induced by wave instability. Tests involving different combinations of triangular obstacles in various heights and intervals and ISW of different amplitudes were performed. The wave features resulting from the interaction of an ISW and double obstacles were found to differ from those of single obstacle. The incident energy of an ISW was either reflecting back from the obstacles, dissipated through turbulent mixing, or transmitted over the double obstacles. Reduction in wave energy increased as the intervals between obstacles reduced. For two obstacles in different heights, energy dissipation was greater in the case with a higher obstacle ahead of a lower one. However, the overall performance was dependent on the relative height of the obstacles, relative water depth of the upper and bottom layer, in addition to the intervals between the obstacles.
ISSN:1567-7419
1573-1510
DOI:10.1007/s10652-008-9055-x