A nonlinear impulsive Cauchy-Poisson problem. Part 1. Eulerian description

Abstract

A nonlinear Cauchy-Poisson problem with impulsive surface forcing is investigated analytically and numerically. An incompressible liquid with an initially horizontal surface is instantaneously put into motion by an impulsive surface pressure distribution turned on and off during an infinitesimal time interval. We consider symmetric, antisymmetric and asymmetric pressure impulses based on dipoles and quadrupoles. The subsequent inviscid free-surface flow is governed by fully nonlinear surface conditions, which are solved exactly to third order in a small-time expansion. The small-time expansion applies to flows dominated by inertia. Such flows are generated by relatively strong pressure impulses, measured in gravitational units. We solve the problem numerically and find that only relatively weak pressure impulses will lead to oscillatory waves. The free surface will break before a full gravitational oscillation is completed when the amplitude of the pressure impulse exceeds one gravitational unit.