Steady free-surface flow over spatially periodic topography

Abstract

Two-dimensional free-surface flow over a spatially periodic channel bed topography is examined using a steady periodically forced Korteweg–de Vries equation. The existence of new forced solitary-type waves with periodic tails is demonstrated using recently developed non-autonomous dynamical-systems theory. Bound states with two or more co-existing solitary waves are also identified. The solution space for varying amplitude of forcing is explored using a numerical method. A rich bifurcation structure is uncovered and shown to be consistent with an asymptotic theory based on small forcing amplitude.