Computations of violent surface motions: comparisons with theory and experiment

Abstract

A numerical implementation of a generalized hydrodynamics has been used to compute a number of violent surface motions (characterized by the collision of different portions of the free surface). For some of these motions, singular aspects of the surface evolution may be analysed theoretically. Comparisons of the output of the calculations with theoretical predictions are made for these cases. In a second test of the predictions of the generalized hydrodynamics, the evolution of a plume generated by underwater explosions is compared with a computed plume history. An important diagnostic tool for studying violent surface motions has been analysis of the sum of the kinetic and internal energies of the flow. Accordingly, we include some results of an investigation into mechanisms for energy dissipation, as well as a description of some relations between energy loss and modes of cavity collapse.