On the stability of the boundary layer at the bottom of propagating surface waves

This study contributes to an improved understanding of the stability of the boundary layer generated at the bottom of a propagating surface wave of small but finite amplitude such that both a second harmonic component and a steady streaming component, which are superimposed on the main oscillatory flow, assume significant values. A linear stability analysis of the laminar flow is made to determine the conditions leading to transition and turbulence appearance. The Reynolds number of the phenomenon is assumed to be large and a 'momentary' criterion of stability is used. The results show that, at a given location, the laminar regime becomes unstable when the flow close to the bottom reverses its direction from the onshore to the offshore direction and the Reynolds number exceeds a first critical value. However, close to the critical condition, the flow is expected to relaminarize during the other phases of the cycle. Only when the Reynolds number is increased does turbulence tend to appear also after the passage of the wave trough when the flow close to the bottom reverses from the offshore to the onshore direction. When the Reynolds number is further increased and becomes larger than a second 'threshold' value, the growth rate of the perturbations becomes positive over the entire wave period. The obtained results suggest the existence of four different flow regimes: the laminar regime, the disturbed laminar regime, the intermittently turbulent regime and the fully developed turbulent regime.