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On head-on collisions between two solitary waves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2006

C. H. Su  and
Rida M. Mirie
C. H. Su
Affiliation:
Division of Applied Mathematics, Brown University, Providence, R.I. 02912
Rida M. Mirie
Affiliation:
Division of Applied Mathematics, Brown University, Providence, R.I. 02912
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Abstract

We consider a head-on collision between two solitary waves on the surface of an inviscid homogeneous fluid. A perturbation method which in principle can generate an asymptotic series of all orders, is used to calculate the effects of the collision. We find that the waves emerging from (i.e. long after) the collision preserve their original identities to the third order of accuracy we have calculated. However a collision does leave imprints on the colliding waves with phase shifts and shedding of secondary waves. Each secondary wave group trails behind its primary, a solitary wave. The amplitude of the wave group diminishes in time because of dispersion. We have also calculated the maximum run-up amplitude of two colliding waves. The result checks with existing experiments.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 98 , Issue 3 , 12 June 1980 , pp. 509 - 525
Copyright
© 1980 Cambridge University Press

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