Wave propagation at the interface of a two-layer fluid system in the laboratory

Abstract

A series of laboratory experiments on internal solitary wave (ISW) had been conducted in a two-layer fluid system. Internal solitary waves were generated in laboratory which was controlled by several variables, including different layer thickness ratios H1/H2, interface differences r/., and the density ratios ρ1/ρ2. The wave flume used in this experiment was 12 meter long with a cross-section 0.5 m wide by 0.7m in height. Five ultrasonic probes placed at equidistance recorded the interface fluctuations, and one density probe measured the change of density across the interface. Data collection and processing were carried out via control software. This paper presents the results of the physical properties related to propagation and dissipation of the ISW. It appears that the leading soliton feature occurred while layer thickness ratios |H1\H2| was large and the decaying ratio in energy and wave amplitude could be approximated by a linear regression trend with distance.