Free-surface flow due to impulsive motion of a submerged circular cylinder

Abstract

The impulsively starting motion of a circular cylinder submerged horizontally below a free surface is studied analytically using a small-time expansion. The series expansion is taken as far as necessary to include the leading gravitational effects for two cases: constant velocity and constant acceleration, both commencing from rest. The hydrodynamic force on the cylinder and the surface elevation are calculated and expressed in terms of bipolar coordinates. Comparisons are also made with earlier theoretical and experimental work. The theory is valid for arbitrary value of submergence depth to cylinder radius.