Stratified Flow Fine Structure Around a Sloping Plate

Abstract

Based on the open source software a method was constructed for 2D numerical solution of the fundamental system of equations for incompressible stratified fluid, which allows analysing both dynamics and fine structure of flows in a wide range of Reynolds numbers. The problem of flow formation around a uniformly moving sloping plate in viscous incompressible salt solution is considered in the range of Reynolds numbers, 1<Re<100 000. The stratified flow structure around a sloping plate was analysed for different angles of attack and classified into a number of typical flow regimes depending on prevailing structural components in the flow. Geometry of vortices and upstream perturbations, which are common for all kinds of fluids, as well as internal waves and thin interfaces, which are specific for stratified media, were investigated.