arXiv subjects

Josh Shelton

Publications and source records attributed to Josh Shelton.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

On the stability of large-amplitude gravity-capillary surface waves

We consider the stability of periodic gravity-capillary waves of finite amplitude for small values of the surface tension. Linear stability with respect to both superharmonic and subharmonic perturbations is calculated for each solution, and our methodology obtains the full eigenvalue spectrum consisting of growth rates and temporal frequencies. For small surface tension, the gravity-capillary wave solution space consists of a countably-infinite number of solution branches that coalesce in the small-surface-tension limit, which forms one of the main complications of our study. When the energy is fixed as an amplitude constraint, we find that the superharmonic instability associated with near-limiting gravity waves emerges at smaller amplitudes in the presence of surface tension. Further, the modulational (long-wave) instability is seen to be stabilised for finite-amplitude solutions in the presence of surface tension. This occurs at surface tension values well below that previously obtained via weakly-nonlinear theory, and the stabilisation is nonmonotonic as very small fluctuations in the surface tension of solutions produce large changes in their stability properties.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2026

Automorphisms of Stokes multipliers in higher-order WKBJ theory

We consider the Stokes phenomenon and higher-order Stokes phenomenon (HOSP) of formal asymptotic transseries arising in the WKBJ analysis of linear differential equations and integral problems. We introduce a framework of automorphisms that act on the Stokes constants of the divergent expansion, explained via late-late-term expansions and parametric Alien calculus, to capture this phenomenon. Our method is applied to a paradigmatic example: we obtain the full Stokes line structure and automorphisms for the Swallowtail problem from catastrophe theory, which contains four WKBJ components. We demonstrate that, in a system with four or more WKBJ components, the automorphism associated with the HOSP can itself change value across another higher-order Stokes line, which occurs when different higher-order Stokes lines intersect. We then argue that no additional special behaviour emerges for transseries with five or more WKBJ components.

math.CA↗

arXiv2025

Time-dependent nonlinear gravity-capillary surface waves with viscous dissipation and wind forcing

We develop a time-dependent conformal method to study the effect of viscosity on steep surface waves. When the effect of surface tension is included, numerical solutions are found that contain highly oscillatory parasitic capillary ripples. These small amplitude ripples are associated with the high curvature at the crest of the underlying viscous-gravity wave, and display asymmetry about the wave crest. Previous inviscid studies of steep surface waves have calculated intricate bifurcation structures that appear for small surface tension. We show numerically that viscosity suppresses these. While the discrete solution branches still appear, they collapse to form a single smooth branch in limit of small surface tension. These solutions are shown to be temporally stable, both to small superharmonic perturbations in a linear stability analysis, and to some larger amplitude perturbations in different initial-value problems. Our work provides a convenient method for the numerical computation and analysis of water waves with viscosity, without evaluating the free-boundary problem for the full Navier-Stokes equations which becomes increasingly challenging at larger Reynolds numbers.

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arXiv2024

Exponential asymptotics and higher-order Stokes phenomenon in singularly perturbed ODEs

The higher-order Stokes phenomenon can emerge in the asymptotic analysis of many problems governed by singular perturbations. Indeed, over the last two decades, the phenomena has appeared in many physical applications, from acoustic and optical wave phenomena and gravity-capillary ripples, to models of crystal growth and equatorial Kelvin waves. It emerges in a generic fashion in the exponential asymptotics of higher-order ordinary and partial differential equations. The intention of this work is to highlight its importance, and develop further practical methodologies for the study of higher-order Stokes phenomena, primarily for general non-integrable problems. Our formal methodology is demonstrated through application to a second-order linear inhomogeneous ODE that exemplifies the simplest example of higher-order Stokes phenomena. In this model problem, the Borel transform can be derived explicitly, and this gives insight into the beyond-all-orders structure. We review and study additional examples, with physically-important connections, including higher-order ODEs and eigenvalue problems.

math.CA↗

arXiv2024

An enthalpy-based model for the physics of ice crystal icing

Ice crystal icing (ICI) in aircraft engines is a major threat to flight safety. Due to the complex thermodynamic and phase-change conditions involved in ICI, rigorous modelling of the accretion process remains limited. The present study proposes a novel modelling approach based on the physically-observed mixed-phase nature of the accretion layers. The mathematical model, which is derived from the enthalpy change after accretion (the enthalpy model), is compared to an existing pure-phase layer model (the three-layer model). Scaling laws and asymptotic solutions are developed for both models. The onset of ice accretion, the icing layer thickness, and solid ice fraction within the layer are determined by a set of non-dimensional parameters including the Peclet number, the Stefan number, the Biot number, the Melt Ratio, and the evaporative rate. Thresholds for freezing and non-freezing conditions are developed. The asymptotic solutions presents good agreement with numerical solutions at low Peclet numbers. Both the asymptotic and numerical solutions show that, when compared to the three-layer model, the enthalpy model presents a thicker icing layer and a thicker water layer above the substrate due to mixed-phased features and modified Stefan conditions. Modelling in terms of the enthalpy poses significant advantages in the development of numerical methods to complex three-dimensional geometrical and flow configurations. These results improve understanding of the accretion process and provide a novel, rigorous mathematical framework for accurate modelling of ICI.

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arXiv2023

A model ODE for the exponential asymptotics of nonlinear parasitic capillary ripples

In this work, we develop a linear model ODE to study the parasitic capillary ripples present on steep Stokes waves when a small amount of surface tension is included in the formulation. Our methodology builds upon the exponential asymptotic theory of Shelton & Trinh (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 939, 2022, A17), who demonstrated that these ripples occur beyond-all-orders of a small-surface-tension expansion. Our model equation, a linear ODE forced by solutions of the Stokes wave equation, forms a convenient tool to calculate numerical and asymptotic solutions. We show analytically that the parasitic capillary ripples that emerge in solutions to this linear model have the same asymptotic scaling and functional behaviour as those in the fully nonlinear problem. It is expected that this work will lead to the study of parasitic capillary ripples that occur in more general formulations involving viscosity or time-dependence.

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arXiv2023

Pathological exponential asymptotics for a model problem of an equatorially trapped Rossby wave

We examine a misleadingly simple linear second-order eigenvalue problem (the Hermite-with-pole equation) that was previously proposed as a model problem of an equatorially-trapped Rossby wave. In the singularly perturbed limit representing small latitudinal shear, the eigenvalue contains an exponentially-small imaginary part; the derivation of this component requires exponential asymptotics. In this work, we demonstrate that the problem contains a number of pathological elements in exponential asymptotics that were not remarked upon in the original studies. This includes the presence of dominant divergent eigenvalues, non-standard divergence of the eigenfunctions, and inactive Stokes lines due to the higher-order Stokes phenomenon. The techniques developed in this work can be generalised to other linear or nonlinear eigenvalue problems involving asymptotics beyond-all-orders where such pathologies are present.

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arXiv2023

Exponential asymptotics and the generation of free-surface flows by submerged line vortices

There has been significant recent interest in the study of water waves coupled with non-zero vorticity. We derive analytical approximations for the exponentially-small free-surface waves generated in two-dimensions by one or several submerged point vortices when driven at low Froude numbers. The vortices are fixed in place, and a boundary-integral formulation in the arclength along the surface allows the study of nonlinear waves and strong point vortices. We demonstrate that for a single point vortex, techniques in exponential asymptotics prescribe the formation of waves in connection with the presence of Stokes lines originating from the vortex. When multiple point vortices are placed within the fluid, trapped waves may occur, which are confined to lie between the vortices. We also demonstrate that for the two-vortex problem, the phenomenon of trapped waves occurs for a countably infinite set of values of the Froude number. This work will form a basis for other asymptotic investigations of wave-structure interactions where vorticity plays a key role in the formation of surface waves.

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arXiv2022

Exponential asymptotics for steady parasitic capillary ripples on steep gravity waves

In this paper we develop an asymptotic theory for steadily travelling gravity-capillary waves under the small-surface tension limit. In an accompanying work [Shelton et al. (2021), J. Fluid Mech., vol 922] it was demonstrated that solutions associated with a perturbation about a leading-order gravity wave (a Stokes wave) contain surface-tension-driven parasitic ripples with an exponentially-small amplitude. Thus a naive Poincaré expansion is insufficient for their description. Here, we shall develop specialised methodologies in exponential asymptotics for derivation of the parasitic ripples on periodic domains. The ripples are shown to arise in conjunction with Stokes lines and the Stokes phenomenon. The analysis relies crucially upon the derivation and analysis of singularities in the analytic continuation of the classic Stokes wave. A solvability condition is derived, showing that solutions of this type do not exist at certain values of the Bond number. The asymptotic results are compared to full numerical solutions and show excellent agreement. The work provides corrections and insight of a seminal theory on parasitic capillary waves first proposed by Longuet-Higgins [J. Fluid Mech., vol. 16 (1), 1963, pp. 138-159].

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arXiv2020

On the structure of parasitic gravity-capillary waves in the small surface tension limit

In this paper, we examine the formation of small capillary waves (parasitic ripples) on the surface of steep steadily-travelling gravity waves. Previously, authors have developed ad-hoc analytical procedures for describing the formation of such parasitic ripples in potential flows; however, it has not been clear whether the small-surface tension limit is well-posed -- that is, whether it is possible for an appropriate travelling gravity-capillary wave to be continuously deformed to the classic Stokes wave in the limit of vanishing surface tension. The work of Chen & Saffman (1980) had suggested smooth continuation was not possible. In this paper, we numerically explore the low surface tension limit of the steep gravity-capillary travelling-wave problem. Our results allow for a classification of the bifurcation structure that arises, and serve to unify a number of previous numerical studies. Crucially, we demonstrate that different choices of solution amplitude can lead to subtle restrictions on the continuation procedure; the use of wave energy as an amplitude condition allows solution branches to be continuously deformed to the zero surface tension limit.

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