Particle trajectories in a weakly nonlinear long-wave model on a shear flow

This manuscript presents the numerical examination of particle trajectories associated with long water waves of small but finite amplitude on a background shear flow over a flat bottom. The authors derived Boussinesq-type equations for two-dimensional water waves on a background flow with constant vorticity, under the assumption that the nonlinear and dispersive effects are small and of the same magnitude. The study focuses on waves propagating in a single direction and introduces a new version of the Benjamin-Bona-Mahony (BBM) equation, which includes the effect of vorticity.\N\NThe authors aim to describe particle trajectories in the presence of constant vorticity using a simplified model equation. The BBM equation derived is presented in a non-dimensional form, taking into account the surface profile, prescribed vorticity, and the constants related to wave propagation. The derivation leads to expressions for the horizontal and vertical velocity components of the fluid. To investigate the particle trajectories, the authors reconstruct an approximate velocity field associated with the BBM equation and examine various cases of particle paths under different surface wave profiles, including solitary waves and periodic traveling waves.\N\NThe study begins with a thorough review of the derivation of the Boussinesq system featuring shear flow and progresses to sketching the derivation of the BBM equation. The derived BBM model is validated in the presence of background constant vorticity. The authors use numerical simulations to examine particle trajectories under surface solitary waves by considering different values of vorticity. The results show that fluid particles move in distinct patterns depending on the vorticity's polarity, with trajectories varying significantly for different vorticity values.\N\NIn the context of periodic waves, the BBM equation admits solutions in terms of Jacobian elliptic functions, and the study explores particle paths in the fluid flow resulting from the propagation of periodic traveling waves at the surface. The investigation reveals that the particle paths are nearly elliptic but not closed in the presence of vorticity. For positive vorticity, the particle paths form orbit loops. The study also examines the influence of background shear flow on particle motion and finds that the polarity of the associated vorticity significantly affects the trajectory shapes. The numerical results confirm that particles closer to the surface experience stronger wave effects, while those deeper into the fluid are more influenced by the vorticity.\N\NThe significance of this research lies in its ability to provide a clear qualitative view of particle paths throughout the fluid domain of nonlinear water waves on shear flows. By deriving a new BBM equation that includes the effect of vorticity and using it to approximate particle motions, the study provides valuable insights into the dynamics of fluid particles under the influence of surface waves and shear flows. This research enhances the understanding of particle trajectories in coastal and oceanographic contexts, where both wave motion and shear flows are prevalent, and has potential applications in predicting sediment transport, pollutant dispersion, and other marine processes.

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