Research article
11 Mar 2011
Research article | 11 Mar 2011
Resurrecting dead-water phenomenon
M. J. Mercier1,*, R. Vasseur1,**, and T. Dauxois1
M. J. Mercier et al.
M. J. Mercier1,*, R. Vasseur1,**, and T. Dauxois1
- 1Université de Lyon, Laboratoire de Physique de l'École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, France
- *now at: Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 01239, USA
- **now at: Institut de Physique Théorique, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif Sur Yvette, France and LPTENS, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris, France
- 1Université de Lyon, Laboratoire de Physique de l'École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, France
- *now at: Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 01239, USA
- **now at: Institut de Physique Théorique, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif Sur Yvette, France and LPTENS, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris, France
Hide author details
Received: 01 Oct 2010 – Revised: 01 Feb 2011 – Accepted: 28 Feb 2011 – Published: 11 Mar 2011
We revisit experimental studies performed by Ekman on dead-water (Ekman, 1904) using modern techniques in order to present new insights on this peculiar phenomenon. We extend its description to more general situations such as a three-layer fluid or a linearly stratified fluid in presence of a pycnocline, showing the robustness of dead-water phenomenon. We observe large amplitude nonlinear internal waves which are coupled to the boat dynamics, and we emphasize that the modeling of the wave-induced drag requires more analysis, taking into account nonlinear effects.
Dedicated to Fridtjöf Nansen born 150 yr ago (10 October 1861).
