Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 April 2006
The effects of a reduction in momentum flux on the downstream flow characteristics of a steady, two-dimensional flow are investigated. In particular, quantities such as the changes in mean depth, mean fluid velocity, mean kinetic and potential energies and the length of the induced downstream wave are examined. This is done with the use of a fourth-order perturbation expansion in wave slope. The results are compared with the conflicting results that had been obtained previously by different authors. Agreement is found with the second-order theory of Benjamin (1970), but the work of Doctors & Dagan (1980) is found to be in error and is corrected.