Plunging cavities

Abstract

When a wave breaks, the tip forms a liquid sheet which impinges the base and creates an air cavity which breaks into bubbles. Gomez-Ledesma, Kiger & Duncan (J. Fluid Mech., this issue, vol. 680, 2011, pp. 5-30) have conducted a nice experiment on this problem, enabling them to discuss both the inclination of the jet and the effect of its translation. This work has interesting links with other transient cavities. © 2011 Cambridge University Press.