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

Abstract

A body is started impulsively from rest and moves in a curved path in a stably stratified fluid. The phase configuration of the internal 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 moving in a circular path in a vertical plane, oscillating through a large amplitude in a horizontal plane, and moving with constant velocity past stationary plates. Theory and experiment show reasonable agreement except where the waves produced by the wake dominate the flow.