The phase configuration of waves around a body moving in a rotating stratified fluid

Abstract

A body is started impulsively from rest and moves on an arbitrary path in an incompressible, stably stratified, rotating fluid. The phase configuration of the waves which are generated is studied using small amplitude wave theory. The theory is compared with experiment for a few special cases which include a horizontal cylinder (a) oscillating about a position fixed in the fluid, (b) moving with constant velocity and (c) moving with a constant angular velocity in a circular path relative to the fluid. Theory and experiment show reasonable agreement except where wakes interfere with the wave pattern.