The Merging of Two Hydraulic Jumps

F. Celestini, R. Kofman
J. Jean Rajchenbach
LPMC, CNRS UMR662
Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis
France  

The interaction of two hydraulic jumps creates a stable fluid arch supported by a thin liquid sheet.

When a water jet impinges upon a solid surface it produces the well-known circular hydraulic jump that everyone can observe in the sink of its kitchen. . It is characterized by a central thin liquid sheet bounded by a circular rise of the water height due to the combined effect of capillary and gravitational forces. In this experiment we study the interaction between two circular hydraulic jumps as a function of their distance and the flux supplied by the two water jets. For a sufficiently small distance and/or large fluxes we observe the structure represented in the picture. One can observe the merging of two hydraulic jumps on the substrate, and the consecutive formation of a stable fluid arch supported by a thin liquid sheet. For larger velocities the arch is broken in two rims and the fluid is ejected at the top of it.  

Reporters and Editors

Reporters may freely use this image. Credit: F. Celestini, R. Kofman and J. Jean Rajchenbach, LPMC, CNRS UMR662, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis (2010).