Energy dissipation and transfer processes during the breaking of modulated wave trains

Abstract

In this work numerical simulation of the breaking induced by the modulational instability are presented. The study is focused on the energy and momentum exchanged taking place at the air-water interface during the breaking process. Simulations are performed by a two-fluids Navier-Stokes solver combined with the VOF technique, which provides a detailed description of the flow in both phases. Results obtained by two different initial conditions are presented in terms of free surface shapes, energy in air and water, vertical fluxes of horizontal momentum and vorticity.