Interference and Transmission of locally forced internal waves in non-uniform stratifications
Name
1005739010-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
6.6 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
96286ce112bd42f44df819fd6cd44cb9
Author(s)
Supekar, Rohit B
Advisor(s)
Thomas Peacock.
Date Issued
2017
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Several studies have investigated the effect of constructive or destructive interference on the transmission of internal waves that propagate through non-uniform stratifications. Such studies have been performed for internal waves that are spatiotemporally harmonic. To understand the effect of spatiotemporal localization, this thesis presents a theoretical and experimental study of the transmission of two-dimensional internal waves that are generated by a boundary forcing that is localized in both space and time. This is done by considering an idealized problem and applying a weakly viscous semi-analytic linear model to it. After validation with a numerical model, the semi-analytic model allows us to perform parametric studies. Using theoretical studies, we show that localization leads to the disappearance of transmission peaks and troughs that would otherwise be present for a harmonic forcing. The laboratory experiments that we perform provide a clear indication of this physical effect. Based on the group velocity and angle of propagation of the internal waves, a practical criteria that assesses when the transmission peaks or troughs are evident, is obtained. It is found that there is a significant difference in the predicted energy transfer due to a harmonic and non-harmonic forcing which has direct implications to various physical forcings such as a storm over the ocean.
Description
Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2017.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 61-63).
Subjects
Mechanical Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
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