Dead Waters: Large amplitude interfacial waves generated by a boat in a stratified fluid

TL;DR

This paper presents visual evidence of the dead water phenomenon, where a boat generates large interfacial waves in stratified fluids without surface waves, affecting its motion.

Contribution

It provides fluid dynamics videos demonstrating the dead water effect in multi-layer fluids, highlighting conditions for large amplitude interfacial waves.

Findings

Large amplitude interfacial waves can be generated without surface waves.

The boat experiences a slowdown or stoppage due to the dead water effect.

Specific stratification conditions are necessary for the phenomenon.

Abstract

We present fluid dynamics videos of the motion of a boat on a two-layer or three-layer fluid. Under certain specific conditions, this setup generates large amplitude interfacial waves, while no surface waves are visible. The boat is slowed down leading to a peristaltic effect and sometimes even stopped: this is the so-called dead water phenomenon.