2012/10/08 by G. Boffetta, Marco Martins Afonso, Boffetta, G. +7 · 1 citation
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Aeolian processes and effects #Chaotic Dynamics (nlin.CD) #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn) #Particle Dynamics in Fluid Flows #Planetary Science and Exploration
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1210.2166
openalex publication_date 2012/10/08 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We study the effect of surface gravity waves on the motion of inertial particles in an incompressible fluid. Using the multiple-scale technique, we perform an analytical calculation which allows us to predict the dynamics of such particles; results are shown for both the infinite- and finite-depth regimes. Numerical simulations based on the velocity field resulting from the second-order Stokes theory for the surface elevation have been performed, and an excellent agreement with the analytical predictions is observed. Such an agreement seems to hold even beyond the formal applicability of the theory. We find that the presence of inertia leads to a non-negligible correction to the well-known horizontal Stokes drift; moreover, we find that the vertical velocity is also affected by a drift. The latter result may have some relevant consequences on the rate of sedimentation of particles of finite size. We underline that such a drift would also be observed in the (hypothetical) absence of the gravitational force.