Upstream influence and separation in flow past obstacles on a BETA-plane.

M. A. Page, E. R. Johnson

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Abstract

Flow past a cylindrical obstacle in an enclosed channel is examined when the entire configuration is rotating rapidly about an axis which is aligned with that of the obstacle. When viewed from a frame of reference which is rotating with the channel, Coriolis forces dominate and act to constrain the motion so that it is two dimensional. In this paper a uniform flow is forced past the obstacle in a channel which has depth varying linearly across its width. The latter, which is equivalent to the so called BETA plane approximation for geophysical flows, permits waves to travel away from the obstacle, forming a lee wave train behind it. If the dissipation in the system is sufficiently small, some waves can also travel large distances upstream and modify the oncoming uniform flow. Numerical solutions are presented and compared with previous theoretical results which are available in certain limits of the governing parameters. The possibility of the flow separation of certain types of obstacles is also considered.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 9th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference
Subtitle of host publicationAuckland, New Zealand, 8-12 December, 1986
PublisherUniversity of Auckland
ISBN (Print)0868690902, 9780868690902
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1986

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