Interaction between breaking-induced vortices and near-bed structures. Part 1. Experimental and theoretical investigation

The present work describes the vortex–vortex interactions observed during laboratory experiments, where a single regular water wave is allowed to travel over discontinuous rigid bed promoting generation of both near-bed and surface vortices. While vortices are generated by flow separation occurring at discontinuity, induced breaking in conjunction with breaking-induced jet. A ‘backward breaking’ (previously case solitary waves) occurs air–water interface downstream discontinuity generates anticlockwise vortex that interacts clockwise vortex. With interaction influenced many physical mechanisms, point-vortex model, which evolve under self-advection (in relation free seabed) mutual interaction, has been implemented separately investigate vortex- wave-induced dynamics. available data indicate governing mechanisms for downward motion vortex, effect jet being negligible. same two combined mean flow, responsible almost horizontal oscillating path investigation paths allow us group performed tests into three distinct classes, each characterized specific range nonlinearity. time evolution main variables characterizing (e.g. circulation, kinetic energy, enstrophy, radius) their maximum values increase nonlinearity, such dependences described synthetic best-fit formulas.