Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-19T10:58:00.274Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The spectral characteristics of wind-generated capillary waves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2006

G. T. Lleonart  and
Deane R. Blackman
G. T. Lleonart
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Monash University, Australia Present address: Footscray Institute of Technology, Ballarat Road, Footscray, Victoria, Australia.
Deane R. Blackman
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Monash University, Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

An experimental study of wind-generated capillary waves has been carried out in a laboratory wind-wave tunnel. In this tunnel it was possible to generate a stationary homogeneous wave field and to vary the wind over a range of speeds. A technique which makes use of a Preston tube has been used to measure the shear stress at the air-water boundary. Measurements of surface elevation and wave slope spectra in the capillary range of frequencies were obtained. Equations describing the wave spectra equilibrium range under the action of wind shear, surface tension and viscosity are derived. For frequencies beyond 15 hertz the measured spectra are in satisfactory agreement with the derived equations. Comparisons with other existing data have also been made.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 97 , Issue 3 , 15 April 1980 , pp. 455 - 479
Copyright
© 1980 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Chang, P. 1968 Laboratory measurements of air flow over wind waves following the moving water surface. Colorado State Univ. Tech. Rep. CER68-69 PcC18.
Cohen, L. S. 1964 Interaction between turbulent air and a flowing liquid film. Ph.D. thesis in Chem. Engng, Urbana, University of Illinois.
Cohen, L. S. & Hanratty, T. J. 1968 Effect of waves at a gas-liquid interface on a turbulent air flow. J. Fluid Mech. 31, 467–479.Google Scholar
Cox, C. S. 1958 Measurements of slopes of high-frequency wind waves. J. Mar. Res. 16, 199–225.Google Scholar
Crapper, G. D. 1957 An exact solution for progressive capillary waves of arbitrary amplitude. J. Fluid Mech. 2, 532–540.Google Scholar
Hanjali, K. & Launder, B. E. 1972 Fully developed asymmetric flow in a plane channel. J. Fluid Mech. 51, 301–335.Google Scholar
Hanratty, T. J. & Engen, J. M. 1957 Interaction between a turbulent air stream and a moving water surface. A.I.Ch.E. J. 3, 299–304.Google Scholar
Head, M. R. & Ram, V. V. 1971 Simplified presentation of Preston tube calibration. Aeronaut. Q. 22, 295–303.Google Scholar
Hidy, G. M. & Plate, E. J. 1966 Wind action on water standing in a laboratory channel. J. Fluid Mech. 26, 651–687.Google Scholar
Keulegan, G. H. 1951 Wind tides in small closed channels. J. Res. Nat. Bur. Stand. 46, 358–381.Google Scholar
Kondo, J., Fujinawa, Y. & Naito, G. 1973 High frequency components of ocean waves and their relation to the aerodynamic roughness. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 3, 197–202.Google Scholar
Lilleleht, L. U. & Hanratty, T. J. 1961 Measurement of interfacial structure for co-current air-water flow. J. Fluid Mech. 11, 65–81.Google Scholar
Lleonart, G. T. 1975 A laboratory study of wind-generated capillary waves. Ph.D. thesis, Monash University.
Long, S. R. & Huang, N. E. 1976 On the variation and growth of wave-slope spectra in the capillary-gravity range with increasing wind. J. Fluid Mech. 77, 209–228.Google Scholar
Mahomet, N. 1973 A laboratory study of wind-induced capillary—gravity waves. Dept. Mech. Engng 4th Yr. Project, Monash University.
Melville, W. K. 1977 Wind stress and roughness length over breaking waves. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 7, 702–710.Google Scholar
Mitsuyasu, H. & Honda, T. 1974 The high frequency spectrum of wind generated waves. J. Oceanogr. Soc. Japan 30, 185–198.Google Scholar
Patel, V. C. 1965 Calibration of the Preston tube and its limitations on its use in pressure gradients. J. Fluid Mech. 23, 185–208.Google Scholar
Phillips, O. M. 1958 Comments on paper by Dr. Cox. J. Mar. Res. 16, 226–230.Google Scholar
Phillips, O. M. 1966 The Dynamics of the Upper Ocean. Cambridge University Press.
Spindel, R. C. & Schultheiss, P. M. 1971 Two-dimensional probability structure of winddriven waves. J. acous. Soc. Am. 52, 1065–1068.Google Scholar
Stewart, R. W. & Grant, H. L. 1962 Determination of the rate of dissipation of turbulent energy near the sea surface in the presence of waves. J. Geophys. Res. 67, 3177–3180.Google Scholar
Wu, J. 1969 Wind stress and surface roughness at air-sea interface. J. Geophys. Res. 74, 444–455.Google Scholar