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Wind-induced growth of mechanically generated water waves[dagger]

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 March 2006

W. Stanley Wilson ,
Michael L. Banner ,
Ronald J. Flower ,
Jeffrey A. Michael  and
Donald G. Wilson
W. Stanley Wilson
Affiliation:
Chesapeake Bay Institute, The Johns Hopkins University Present address: Office of Navel Research, Code 481, Arlington, Virginia 22217.
Michael L. Banner
Affiliation:
Chesapeake Bay Institute, The Johns Hopkins University
Ronald J. Flower
Affiliation:
Chesapeake Bay Institute, The Johns Hopkins University
Jeffrey A. Michael
Affiliation:
Chesapeake Bay Institute, The Johns Hopkins University
Donald G. Wilson
Affiliation:
Chesapeake Bay Institute, The Johns Hopkins University
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Abstract

An experimental study was conducted to measure the growth rates of mechanically generated surface water waves when subjected to a fully developed turbulent channel airflow. The study was designed to test the accuracy of the growth rates predicted by Miles's (1962b) theory. For a series of wave frequencies (from 2·04 to 6·04 Hz at 0·50 Hz increments) and centre-line wind velocities (0·20, 1·12 and 1·84 m/s) wave amplitudes were measured at three stations (2–21, 3–43 and 4·65 m) downwind from a wave generator. In addition, for centre-line velocities of 1–12 and 1·84 m/s, U* (the velocity at the outer edge of the viscous sublayer) and U1, (the shear velocity) were obtained from measured mean velocity and Reynolds stress profiles. The wave amplitude measurements at the wind velocity of 0·20 m/s provided attenuation rate estimates which agreed reasonably well with theoretical attenuation rates based on viscous effects both on the walls and in the bulk of the water. The amplitude measurements at the wind velocities of 1·12 and 1·84m/s provided growth rate estimates which were compared with theoretical growth rates (computed using the wave frequency, U1 and U* predicted by Miles's (1962b) theory. At 1·12m/s Miles's growth rateswere two to five times larger than those measured; at 1·84 m/s Miles's growth rates were about two times larger.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 58 , Issue 3 , 8 May 1973 , pp. 435 - 460
Copyright
© 1973 Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Contribution number 186 of the Chesapeake Bay Institute.

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