Experimental Simulation of the Generation of a Vortex Flow on a Water Surface by a Wave Cascade

Abstract

The generation of a vortex flow by waves on a water surface, which simulate an energy cascade in a system of gravity waves at frequencies of 3, 4, 5, and 6 Hz, has been studied experimentally. It has been found that pumping is accompanied by the propagation of waves on the surface at different angles to the fundamental mode and by a nonlinear interaction between waves resulting in the generation of new harmonics. It has been shown that large-scale flows are formed by modes of the lowest frequency of 3 Hz intersecting at acute angles. The energy distribution of the vortex motion can be described by a power-law function of the wavenumber and is independent of the energy distribution in a system of surface waves. The energy coming to large-scale vortex flows directly from the wave system is transferred to small scales. A direct rather than inverse energy flux is established in the system of vortices.