The process of interaction between nonlinear waves on a free surface of a nonconducting fluid in a strong tangential electric field is simulated numerically (effects of the force of gravity and capillarity are neglected). It is shown that singular points are formed at the fluid boundary in a finite time; at these points, the boundary curvature significantly increases and undergoes a discontinuity. The amplitude and slope angles of the boundary remain small. The singular behavior of the system is demonstrated by spectral functions of the fluid surface—they acquire a power dependence. Near the singularity, the boundary curvature demonstrates a self-similar behavior typical for weak root singularities.
Nonlinear dynamics of the interface of dielectric liquids under the conditions of suppression of the Kelvin–Helmholz instability by a tangential electric field has been investigated. Two broad classes of exact analytical solutions to the equations of motion describing the evolution of spatially localized and periodic interface perturbations have been found. Both classes of solutions tend to the formation of strong singularities: interface discontinuities with formally infinite amplitudes. The discontinuity sign is determined by the sign of liquid velocity jump at the interface.
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