In the study of fluid dynamics and transport phenomena, key quantities of interest are often the force and torque on objects and total rate of heat/mass transfer from them. Conventionally, these integrated quantities are determined by first solving the governing equations for the detailed distribution of the field variables (i.e. velocity, pressure, temperature, concentration, etc.) and then integrating the variables or their derivatives on the surface of the objects. On the other hand, the divergence form of the conservation equations opens the door for establishing integral identities that can be used for directly calculating the integrated quantities without requiring the detailed knowledge of the distribution of the primary variables. This shortcut approach constitutes the idea of the reciprocal theorem, whose closest relative is Green’s second identity, which readers may recall from studies of partial differential equations. Despite its importance and practicality, the theorem may not be so familiar to many in the research community. Ironically, some believe that the extreme simplicity and generality of the theorem are responsible for suppressing its application! In this Perspectives piece, we provide a pedagogical introduction to the concept and application of the reciprocal theorem, with the hope of facilitating its use. Specifically, a brief history on the development of the theorem is given as a background, followed by the discussion of the main ideas in the context of elementary boundary-value problems. After that, we demonstrate how the reciprocal theorem can be utilized to solve fundamental problems in low-Reynolds-number hydrodynamics, aerodynamics, acoustics and heat/mass transfer, including convection. Throughout the article, we strive to make the materials accessible to early career researchers while keeping it interesting for more experienced scientists and engineers.

We study the dynamical system of a two-dimensional, forced, stratified mixing layer at finite Reynolds number $Re$, and Prandtl number $Pr=1$. We consider a hyperbolic tangent background velocity profile in the two cases of hyperbolic tangent and uniform background buoyancy stratifications, in a domain of fixed, finite width and height. The system is forced in such a way that these background profiles are a steady solution of the governing equations. As is well known, if the minimum gradient Richardson number of the flow, $Ri_{m}$, is less than a certain critical value $Ri_{c}$, the flow is linearly unstable to Kelvin–Helmholtz instability in both cases. Using Newton–Krylov iteration, we find steady, two-dimensional, finite-amplitude elliptical vortex structures – i.e. ‘Kelvin–Helmholtz billows’ – existing above $Ri_{c}$. Bifurcation diagrams are produced using branch continuation, and we explore how these diagrams change with varying $Re$. In particular, when $Re$ is sufficiently high we find that finite-amplitude Kelvin–Helmholtz billows exist when $Ri_{m}>1/4$ for the background flow, which is linearly stable by the Miles–Howard theorem. For the uniform background stratification, we give a simple explanation of the dynamical system, showing the dynamics can be understood on a two-dimensional manifold embedded in state space, and demonstrate the cases in which the system is bistable. In the case of a hyperbolic tangent stratification, we also describe a new, slow-growing, linear instability of the background profiles at finite $Re$, which complicates the dynamics.

A Koopman decomposition is a powerful method of analysis for fluid flows leading to an apparently linear description of nonlinear dynamics in which the flow is expressed as a superposition of fixed spatial structures with exponential time dependence. Attempting a Koopman decomposition is simple in practice due to a connection with dynamic mode decomposition (DMD). However, there are non-trivial requirements for the Koopman decomposition and DMD to overlap, which mean it is often difficult to establish whether the latter is truly approximating the former. Here, we focus on nonlinear systems containing multiple simple invariant solutions where it is unclear how to construct a consistent Koopman decomposition, or how DMD might be applied to locate these solutions. First, we derive a Koopman decomposition for a heteroclinic connection in a Stuart–Landau equation revealing two possible expansions. The expansions are centred about the two fixed points of the equation and extend beyond their linear subspaces before breaking down at a cross-over point in state space. Well-designed DMD can extract the two expansions provided that the time window does not contain this cross-over point. We then apply DMD to the Navier–Stokes equations near to a heteroclinic connection in low Reynolds number ($Re=O(100)$) plane Couette flow where there are multiple simple invariant solutions beyond the constant shear basic state. This reveals as many different Koopman decompositions as simple invariant solutions present and once more indicates the existence of cross-over points between the expansions in state space. Again, DMD can extract these expansions only if it does not include a cross-over point. Our results suggest that in a dynamical system possessing multiple simple invariant solutions, there are generically places in phase space – plausibly hypersurfaces delineating the boundary of a local Koopman expansion – across which the dynamics cannot be represented by a convergent Koopman expansion.

A viscous suspension of negatively buoyant particles released into a wide, open channel on an incline will stratify in the normal direction as it flows. We model the early dynamics of this stratification under the effects of sedimentation and shear-induced migration. Prior work focuses on the behaviour after equilibration where the bulk suspension either separates into two distinct fronts (settled) or forms a single, particle-laden front (ridged), depending on whether the initial concentration of particles exceeds a critical threshold. From past experiments, it is also clear that this equilibration time scale grows considerably near the critical concentration. This paper models the approach to equilibrium. We present a theory of the dramatic growth in this equilibration time when the mixture concentration is near the critical value, where the balance between settling and shear-induced resuspension reverses.

The standard D’Yakov and Kontorovich (DK) instability occurs when a planar shock wave is perturbed and then oscillates with constant amplitude in the long-time regime. As a direct result, pressure perturbations generated directly behind the shock propagate downstream as non-evanescent sound waves, an effect known as spontaneous acoustic emission (SAE). To reach the DK regime, the slope of the Rankine–Hugoniot curve in the post-shock state must satisfy certain conditions, which have usually been related to non-ideal equations of state. This study reports that the DK instability and SAE can also occur in shocks moving in perfect gases when exothermic effects occur. In particular, a planar detonation, initially perturbed with a wavelength much larger than the detonation thickness, may exhibit constant-amplitude oscillations when the amount of heat released is positively correlated with the shock strength, a phenomenon that resembles the Rayleigh thermoacoustic instability. The opposite strongly damped oscillation regime is reached when the shock strength and the change in the heat released are negatively correlated. This study employs a linear perturbation model to describe the long-time and transient evolution of the detonation front, which is assumed to be infinitely thin, and the sound and entropy–vorticity fields generated downstream.

Thermo-acoustic combustion instabilities arise from feedback between flow perturbations and the unsteady heat release rate of a flame in a combustion chamber. In the case of a premixed, swirl stabilized flame, an unsteady heat release rate results from acoustic velocity perturbations at the burner inlet on the one hand, and from azimuthal velocity perturbations, which are generated by acoustic waves propagating across the swirler, on the other. The respective time lags associated with these flow–flame interaction mechanisms determine the overall flame response to acoustic perturbations and therefore thermo-acoustic stability. The propagation of azimuthal velocity perturbations in a cylindrical duct is commonly assumed to be convective, which implies that the corresponding time lag is governed by the speed of convection. We scrutinize this assumption in the framework of small perturbation analysis and modal decomposition of the Euler equations by considering an initial value problem. The analysis reveals that azimuthal velocity perturbations in swirling flows should be regarded as dispersive inertial waves. As a result of the restoring Coriolis force, wave propagation speeds lie above and below the mean flow bulk velocity. The differences between wave propagation speed and convection speed increase with increasing swirl. A linear, time invariant step response solution for the dynamics of inertial waves is developed, which can be approximated by a concise analytical expression. This study enhances the understanding of the flame dynamics of swirl burners in particular, and contributes physical insight into the inertial wave dynamics in general.

The hydrodynamic lift velocity of a neutrally buoyant fibre in a simple shear flow near a wall is determined for small, but non-zero, fibre Reynolds number, illustrating the role of non-sphericity in lift. The rotational motion and effects of fibre orientation on lift are treated for fibre positions that induce and do not induce solid-body wall contacts. When the fibre does not contact the wall its lift velocity can be obtained in terms of the Stokes flow field by using a generalized reciprocal theorem. The Stokes velocity field is determined using slender-body theory with the no-slip velocity at the wall enforced using the method of images. To leading order the lift velocity at distances large compared with the fibre length and small compared with the Oseen length is found to be $0.0303\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}\dot{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}}^{2}l^{2}a/(\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}\ln [2l/a])$, where $l$ and $a$ are the fibre half-length and radius, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}$ is the density, $\dot{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}}$ is the shear rate and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}$ is the viscosity of the fluid. When the fibre is close enough to the wall to make solid-body contact during its rotational motion, a process known as pole vaulting coupled with inertially induced changes of fibre orientation determines the lift velocity. The order of magnitude of the lift in this case is larger by a factor of $l/a$ than when the fibre does not contact the wall and it reaches a maximum of $0.013\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}\dot{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FE}}^{2}l^{3}/(\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}\ln [l/a])$ for the case of a highly frictional contact and about half that value for a frictionless contact. These results are used to illustrate how particle shape can contribute to separation methods such as those in microfluidic channels or cross-flow filtration processes.

It is well established that dimples accelerate the drag crisis on a sphere. The result of the early drag crisis is a reduction of the drag coefficient by more than a factor of two when compared to a smooth sphere at the same Reynolds number. However, when the drag coefficients for smooth and dimpled spheres in the post-critical regime are compared, the latter is higher by a factor of two to three. To understand the origin of this behaviour, we conducted direct numerical simulations of the flow around a dimpled sphere, which is similar to commercially available golf balls, in the post-critical regime. By comparing the results to those for a smooth sphere, it is found that dimples, although effective in accelerating the drag crisis, impose a local drag penalty, which contributes significantly to the overall drag force. This finding challenges the broadly accepted view that dimples only indirectly affect the drag force on a sphere by energizing the near-wall flow and delaying global separation.

Owing to the interplay between the forward Stokes drift and the backward wave-induced Eulerian return flow, Lagrangian particles underneath surface gravity wave groups can follow different trajectories depending on their initial depth below the surface. The motion of particles near the free surface is dominated by the waves and their Stokes drift, whereas particles at large depths follow horseshoe-shaped trajectories dominated by the Eulerian return flow. For unidirectional wave groups, a small net displacement in the direction of travel of the group results near the surface, and is accompanied by a net particle displacement in the opposite direction at depth. For deep-water waves, we study these trajectories experimentally by means of particle tracking velocimetry in a two-dimensional flume. In doing so, we provide visual illustration of Lagrangian trajectories under groups, including the contributions of both the Stokes drift and the Eulerian return flow to both the horizontal and the vertical Lagrangian displacements. We compare our experimental results to leading-order solutions of the irrotational water wave equations, finding good agreement.

Tomographic particle image velocimetry experiments were conducted in the near and intermediate fields of two different types of jet, one fitted with a circular orifice and another fitted with a repeating-fractal-pattern orifice. Breda & Buxton (J. Vis., vol. 21 (4), 2018, pp. 525–532; Phys. Fluids, vol. 30, 2018, 035109) showed that this fractal geometry suppressed the large-scale coherent structures present in the near field and affected the rate of entrainment of background fluid into, and subsequent development of, the fractal jet, relative to the round jet. In light of these findings we now examine the modification of the turbulent/non-turbulent interface (TNTI) and spatial evolution of the small-scale behaviour of these different jets, which are both important factors behind determining the entrainment rate. This evolution is examined in both the streamwise direction and within the TNTI itself where the fluid adapts from a non-turbulent state, initially through the direct action of viscosity and then through nonlinear inertial processes, to the state of the turbulence within the bulk of the flow over a short distance. We show that the suppression of the coherent structures in the fractal jet leads to a less contorted interface, with large-scale excursions of the inner TNTI (that between the jet’s azimuthal shear layer and the potential core) being suppressed. Further downstream, the behaviour of the TNTI is shown to be comparable for both jets. The velocity gradients develop into a canonical state with streamwise distance, manifested as the development of the classical tear-drop shaped contours of the statistical distribution of the velocity-gradient-tensor invariants $\mathit{Q}$ and $\mathit{R}$. The velocity gradients also develop spatially through the TNTI from the irrotational boundary to the bulk flow; in particular, there is a strong small-scale anisotropy in this region. This strong inhomogeneity of the velocity gradients in the TNTI region has strong consequences for the scaling of the thickness of the TNTI in these spatially developing flows since both the Taylor and Kolmogorov length scales are directly computed from the velocity gradients.

Unsteady flow fields over a circular cylinder are used for training and then prediction using four different deep learning networks: generative adversarial networks with and without consideration of conservation laws; and convolutional neural networks with and without consideration of conservation laws. Flow fields at future occasions are predicted based on information on flow fields at previous occasions. Predictions of deep learning networks are made for flow fields at Reynolds numbers that were not used during training. Physical loss functions are proposed to explicitly provide information on conservation of mass and momentum to deep learning networks. An adversarial training is applied to extract features of flow dynamics in an unsupervised manner. Effects of the proposed physical loss functions and adversarial training on predicted results are analysed. Captured and missed flow physics from predictions are also analysed. Predicted flow fields using deep learning networks are in good agreement with flow fields computed by numerical simulations.

In turbulent planar Couette flow under anticyclonic spanwise system rotation, large-scale roll-cell structures arise due to a Coriolis-force-induced instability. The structures are superimposed on smaller-scale turbulence, and with increasing angular velocity ($\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}_{z}$) such roll cells dominate the flow field and small-scale turbulence is instead suppressed in a certain rotation number range $0<Ro\lesssim 0.1$ ($Ro=2\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FA}_{z}h/U_{w}$, where $h$ is the channel half-width, $U_{w}$ the wall velocity). At low rotation numbers around $Ro\approx 0.02$ both large-scale roll cells and smaller-scale turbulence coexist. In the present study, we investigate interaction between these structures through a scale-by-scale analysis of the Reynolds stress transport. We show that at low rotation numbers $Ro\approx 0.01$ the turbulence productions by the mean flow gradient and the Coriolis force occur at different scales and thereby the turbulent energy distribution over a wide range of scales is maintained. On the other hand at higher rotation numbers $Ro\gtrsim 0.05$, a zero-absolute-vorticity state is established and production of small scales from the mean shear disappears although large-scale turbulence production is maintained through the Coriolis force. At high enough Reynolds numbers, where scale separation between the near-wall structures and the roll cells is relatively distinct, transition between these different $Ro$ regimes is found to occur rather abruptly around $Ro\approx 0.02$, resulting in a non-monotonic behaviour of the wall shear stress as a function of $Ro$. It is also shown that at such an intermediate rotation number the roll cells interact with smaller scales by moving near-wall structures towards the core region of the channel, by which the Reynolds stress is transported from relatively small scales near the wall towards larger scales in the channel centre. Such Reynolds stress transport by scale interaction becomes increasingly significant as the Reynolds number increases, and results in a reversed mean velocity gradient at the channel centre at high enough Reynolds numbers.

In this paper, we present an experimental investigation of the turbulent saturation of the flow driven by the parametric resonance of inertial waves in a rotating fluid. In our set-up, a half-metre wide ellipsoid filled with water is brought to solid-body rotation, and then undergoes sustained harmonic modulation of its rotation rate. This triggers the exponential growth of a pair of inertial waves via a mechanism called the libration-driven elliptical instability. Once the saturation of this instability is reached, we observe a turbulent state for which energy is injected into the resonant inertial waves only. Depending on the amplitude of the rotation rate modulation, two different saturation states are observed. At large forcing amplitudes, the saturation flow mainly consists of a steady, geostrophic anticyclone. Its amplitude vanishes as the forcing amplitude is decreased while remaining above the threshold of the elliptical instability. Below this secondary transition, the saturation flow is a superposition of inertial waves which are in weakly nonlinear resonant interaction, a state that could asymptotically lead to inertial wave turbulence. In addition to being a first experimental observation of a wave-dominated saturation in unstable rotating flows, the present study is also an experimental confirmation of the model of Le Reun et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 119 (3), 2017, 034502) who introduced the possibility of these two turbulent regimes. The transition between these two regimes and their relevance to geophysical applications are finally discussed.

Droplet dynamics on a solid substrate is significantly influenced by surfactants. It remains a challenging task to model and simulate the moving contact line dynamics with soluble surfactants. In this work, we present a derivation of the phase-field moving contact line model with soluble surfactants through the first law of thermodynamics, associated thermodynamic relations and the Onsager variational principle. The derived thermodynamically consistent model consists of two Cahn–Hilliard type of equations governing the evolution of interface and surfactant concentration, the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations and the generalized Navier boundary condition for the moving contact line. With chemical potentials derived from the free energy functional, we analytically obtain certain equilibrium properties of surfactant adsorption, including equilibrium profiles for phase-field variables, the Langmuir isotherm and the equilibrium equation of state. A classical droplet spread case is used to numerically validate the moving contact line model and equilibrium properties of surfactant adsorption. The influence of surfactants on the contact line dynamics observed in our simulations is consistent with the results obtained using sharp interface models. Using the proposed model, we investigate the droplet dynamics with soluble surfactants on a chemically patterned surface. It is observed that droplets will form three typical flow states as a result of different surfactant bulk concentrations and defect strengths, specifically the coalescence mode, the non-coalescence mode and the detachment mode. In addition, a phase diagram for the three flow states is presented. Finally, we study the unbalanced Young stress acting on triple-phase contact points. The unbalanced Young stress could be a driving or resistance force, which is determined by the critical defect strength.

Motivated by the need for accurate determination of wall shear stress from profile measurements in turbulent boundary layer flows, the total shear stress balance is analysed and reformulated using several well-established semi-empirical relations. The analysis highlights the significant effect that small pressure gradients can have on parameters deduced from data even in nominally zero pressure gradient boundary layers. Using the comprehensive shear stress balance together with the log-law equation, it is shown that friction velocity, roughness length and zero-plane displacement can be determined with only velocity and turbulent shear stress profile measurements at a single streamwise location for nominally zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers. Application of the proposed analysis to turbulent smooth- and rough-wall experimental data shows that the friction velocity is determined with accuracy comparable to force balances (approximately 1 %–4 %). Additionally, application to boundary layer data from previous studies provides clear evidence that the often cited discrepancy between directly measured friction velocities (e.g. using force balances) and those derived from traditional total shear stress methods is likely due to the small favourable pressure gradient imposed by a fixed cross-section facility. The proposed comprehensive shear stress analysis can account for these small pressure gradients and allows more accurate boundary layer wall shear stress or friction velocity determination using commonly available mean velocity and shear stress profile data from a single streamwise location.

In self-excited combustion systems, the application of open-loop forcing is known to be an effective strategy for controlling periodic thermoacoustic oscillations, but it is not known whether and under what conditions such a strategy would work on thermoacoustic oscillations that are not simply periodic. In this study, we experimentally examine the effect of periodic acoustic forcing on a prototypical thermoacoustic system consisting of a ducted laminar premixed flame oscillating quasiperiodically on an ergodic $\mathbb{T}^{2}$ torus at two incommensurate natural frequencies, $f_{1}$ and $f_{2}$. Compared with that of a classical period-1 system, complete synchronization of this $\mathbb{T}_{1,2}^{2}$ system is found to occur via a more intricate route involving three sequential steps: as the forcing amplitude, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}_{f}$, increases at a fixed forcing frequency, $f_{f}$, the system transitions first (i) to ergodic $\mathbb{T}_{1,2,f}^{3}$ quasiperiodicity; then (ii) to resonant $\mathbb{T}_{1,f}^{2}$ quasiperiodicity as the weaker of the two natural modes, $f_{2}$, synchronizes first, leading to partial synchronization; and finally (iii) to a $P1_{f}$ limit cycle as the remaining natural mode, $f_{1}$, also synchronizes, leading to complete synchronization. The minimum $\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}_{f}$ required for partial and complete synchronization decreases as $f_{f}$ approaches either $f_{1}$ or $f_{2}$, resulting in two primary Arnold tongues. However, when forced at an amplitude above that required for complete synchronization, the system can transition out of $P1_{f}$ and into $\mathbb{T}_{1,2,f}^{3}$ or $\mathbb{T}_{2,f}^{2}$. The optimal control strategy is to apply off-resonance forcing at a frequency around the weaker natural mode ($f_{2}$) and at an amplitude just sufficient to cause $P1_{f}$, because this produces the largest reduction in thermoacoustic amplitude via asynchronous quenching. Analysis of the Rayleigh index shows that this reduction is physically caused by a disruption of the positive coupling between the unsteady heat release rate of the flame and the $f_{1}$ and $f_{2}$ acoustic modes. If the forcing is applied near the stronger natural mode ($f_{1}$), however, resonant amplification can occur. We then phenomenologically model this $\mathbb{T}_{1,2}^{2}$ thermoacoustic system as two reactively coupled van der Pol oscillators subjected to external sinusoidal forcing, and find that many of its synchronization features – such as the three-step route to $P1_{f}$, the double Arnold tongues, asynchronous quenching and resonant amplification – can be qualitatively reproduced. This shows that these features are not limited to our particular system, but are universal features of forced self-excited oscillators. This study extends the applicability of open-loop control from classical period-1 systems with just a single time scale to ergodic $\mathbb{T}^{2}$ quasiperiodic systems with two incommensurate time scales.

The Faraday instability in a system of two conjugated immiscible liquid layers with disparate thicknesses is investigated. The top layer is relatively thick and undergoes short-wavelength instabilities, while the bottom layer is thin and undergoes long-wavelength instabilities. The two layers are coupled by the kinematic and dynamic relations at the interface. Through linear stability analysis, a lubrication effect, which significantly reduces the destabilization threshold, is identified. Especially when the vibration frequency is low, the lubrication effect is seen to influence the transition between the harmonic and subharmonic instability modes. It is studied how far the system with two layers can be approximated by a single-layer system with a Navier-slip boundary condition at the bottom. In corresponding experiments it is found that the time-periodic excitation of the system creates a steady-state deformation of the bottom layer. This indicates nonlinear dynamics of the system and the violation of reversibility. The excellent agreement between experimental and theoretical results for the onset of the instability underpins the validity of the linear stability analysis.

The Richtmyer–Meshkov (RM) instability is numerically investigated on an unperturbed interface subjected to a diffracted convergent shock created by diffracting an initially cylindrical shock over a rigid cylinder. Four gas interfaces are considered with Atwood number ranging from $-0.18$ to 0.67. Results indicate that the diffracted convergent shock increases its strength gradually and reduces its amplitude quickly when it propagates towards the convergence centre. After the strike of the diffracted convergent shock, the initially unperturbed interface deforms with a bulge structure at the centre and two interface steps at both sides, which can be ascribed to the non-uniformity of the pressure distribution behind the diffracted convergent shock. With the decrease of Atwood number, the bulge structure becomes more pronounced. Quantitatively, the interface amplitude experiences a fast but short growing stage and then enters a linear stage. A good collapse of the dimensionless amplitude is found for all cases, which indicates a weak dependence of the growth rate on Atwood number in the deformed shock-induced RM instability. Then the impulsive theory is modified by eliminating the Atwood number and considering the geometry convergence, which well predicts the amplitude growth for the deformed shock-induced RM instability. Finally, the underlying mechanism is decoupled into three parts, and it is found that both the impulsive pressure perturbation and the geometry convergence promote the growth of interface perturbation while the continuous pressure perturbation inhibits the growth. As the Atwood number decreases, the impulsive perturbation plays an increasingly important role, which suggests that the impulsive perturbation dominates the deformed shock-induced RM instability at the linear stage.

The generation of spray during the vertical impact of a flat plate (length $L=1.22~\text{m}$, width $B=0.38~\text{m}$) on a quiescent water surface is studied experimentally. The plate is held in an orientation tilted up from horizontal by angles $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ ranging from $10^{\circ }$ to $25^{\circ }$ about one of its long edges, which is positioned close to a vertical wall. The plate motion, which is driven by a servo motor system, is set to maintain a constant speed, $W_{0}$, until the trailing (upper) long edge of the plate passes the still water level (SWL) and then to decelerate to a stop. The impact Froude numbers $\mathit{Fr}$ ($=W_{0}/\sqrt{gB}$, where $g$ is the gravitational acceleration) range from 0.21 to 0.63. The evolution of the water surface underneath the plate and outboard of its trailing edge is measured with a cinematic laser induced fluorescence technique. As the plate’s leading (low) edge passes the SWL, the local water surface rises and develops into a thin spray sheet that travels along the plate’s lower surface toward the trailing edge. The horizontal speed of the under-plate spray tip is approximately $2.25W_{0}/\tan \unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$, as high as $15~\text{m}~\text{s}^{-1}$. In agreement with published similarity theory for the flow during the vertical water entry of a wedge, the under-plate surface profiles scaled by $W_{0}t$ nearly collapse on a single curve for each $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$. As the under-plate spray passes the plate’s trailing edge, it develops into the leading portion (called herein the Type I spray) of the outboard spray system. As the trailing edge of the plate passes through the local water surface, a crater develops and a large nearly vertical spray sheet (called the Type II spray) is generated from the outer edge (called the outboard spray root) of the crater. The characteristic horizontal length scale of the crater is found to expand in time following a power law with an exponent of approximately 0.77 for all conditions. A short time after its formation, the outboard spray root becomes the crest of a gravity wave whose propagation speed is of the order of $1~\text{m}~\text{s}^{-1}$ for all $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ and $\mathit{Fr}$. The dimensionless envelope of the Type II spray profiles collapse to a single curve at high $\mathit{Fr}$ for each $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$. The connecting spray sheet between the Type I and Type II sprays tends to break up at small $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ and large $\mathit{Fr}$.

Submesoscale currents, small-scale turbulence and surface gravity waves co-exist in the upper ocean and interact in complex ways. To expose the couplings, the frontogenetic life cycle of an idealized cold dense submesoscale filament interacting with upper ocean Langmuir turbulence is investigated in large-eddy simulations (LESs) based on the incompressible wave-averaged equations. The simulations utilize large domains and fine meshes with $6.4\times 10^{9}$ grid points. Case studies are made with surface winds or surface cooling with waves oriented in across-filament (perpendicular) or down-filament (parallel) directions relative to the two-dimensional filament axis. The currents $u$, $v$ and $w$ are aligned with the across-filament, down-filament and vertical directions, respectively. Frontogenesis is induced by across-filament Lagrangian secondary circulations in the boundary layer, and it is shown to be strongly impacted by surface waves, in particular the propagation direction relative to the filament axis. In a horizontally heterogeneous boundary layer, surface waves induce both mean and fluctuating Stokes-drift vortex forces that modify a linear, hydrostatic turbulent thermal wind (TTW) approximation for momentum. Down-filament winds and waves are found to be especially impactful, they significantly reduce the peak level of frontogenesis by fragmenting the filament into primary and secondary down-welling sites in a broad frontal zone over a width ${\sim}500~\text{m}$. At peak frontogenesis, opposing down-filament jets $\langle v\rangle$ overlie each other resulting in a vigorous vertical shear layer $\unicode[STIX]{x2202}_{z}\langle v\rangle$ with large vertical momentum flux $\langle v^{\prime }w^{\prime }\rangle$. Filament arrest is induced by a lateral shear instability that generates horizontal momentum flux $\langle u^{\prime }v^{\prime }\rangle$ at low wavenumbers. The turbulent vertical velocity patterns, indicative of coherent Langmuir cells, change markedly across the horizontal domain with both across-filament and down-filament winds under the action of submesoscale currents.