Interfacial capillary-gravity waves due to a fundamental singularity in a system of two semi-infinite fluids

Abstract

The interfacial capillary-gravity waves due to a transient fundamental singularity immersed in a system of two semi-infinite immiscible fluids of different densities are investigated analytically for two- and three- dimensional cases. The two-fluid system, which consists of an inviscid fluid overlying a viscous fluid, is assumed to be incompressible and initially quiescent. The two fluids are each homogeneous, and separated by a sharp and stable interface. The Laplace equation is taken as the governing equation for the inviscid flow, while the linearized unsteady Navier-Stokes equations are used for the viscous flow. With surface tension taken into consideration, the kinematic and dynamic conditions on the interface are linearized for small-amplitude waves. The singularity is modeled as a simple mass source when immersed in the inviscid fluid above the interface, or as a vertical point force when immersed in the viscous fluid beneath the interface. Based on the integral solutions for the interfacial waves, the asymptotic wave profiles are derived for large times with a fixed distance-to-time ratio by means of the generalized method of stationary phase. It is found that there exists a minimum group velocity, and the wave system observed will depend on the moving speed of the observer. Two schemes of expansion of the phase function are proposed for the two cases when the moving speed of an observer is larger than, or close to the minimum group velocity. Explicit analytical solutions are presented for the long gravity-dominant and the short capillary-dominant wave systems, incorporating the effects of density ratio, surface tension, viscosity and immersion depth of the singularity. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007.