STEADY CURRENTS INDUCED BY SEA WAVES PROPAGATING OVER A SLOPING BOTTOM

Erminia Capodicasa, Pietro Scandura, Foti Enrico

Abstract


A numerical model aimed at computing the mean velocity generated by a sea wave propagating over a sloping bottom, offshore the breaker line, is presented. The model is based on the assumption that the fluid domain can be partitioned into two boundary layers and a core region where at a first order of approximation the flow can be regarded as irrotational. The irrotational flow is computed by using a theory based on the assumption of small amplitude waves which allows both fully absorbed waves and partially reflected waves at the coastline to be considered. The distribution of the mean velocity is controlled by the ratio between the thickness of the boundary layer and the wave amplitude. When this ratio is small, the mean velocities are rather constant along the depth and a second boundary layer develops close to the bottom. In the case of fully reflected waves such boundary layer separates and the mean vorticity can be convected far from the bottom.

Keywords


sea waves; boundary layers; steady currents

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