Nonlinear evolution equation for modeling waves at the boundary of a stratified flow of viscous liquids in an inclined channel

Abstract

Abstract The dynamics of perturbations of the interface of a two-layer Poiseuille flow in a flat closed inclined channel is studied. The velocity profiles of wave motion are analytically found neglecting dissipation, dispersion and pumping of perturbations. On the basis of the found solution, a nonlinear evolution integro-differential equation for plane moderately long perturbations of the interface of the liquids is derived. The coefficients of the equation are represented by integrals over the layer thicknesses from functions depending on the stationary flow and perturbation profiles. The equation takes into account viscous dissipation: one of the integrals in this equation corresponds to dissipation in lion-stationary boundary layers, and the other corresponds to the transfer of energy from the flow to the wave. For the case of small flow velocities, the coefficients of the equation are analytically calculated. The equation has also been generalized to the quasi-two-dimensional case when the gradients along the transversal coordinate are small.