Abstract
The effect of viscosity on the wave resistance experienced by a two-dimensional perturbation moving at uniform velocity over the free surface of a fluid is investigated. The analysis is based on Rayleigh's linearized theory of capillary-gravity waves. It is shown in particular that the wave resistance remains bounded as the velocity of the perturbation approaches the minimum phase speed cmin = (4gγ/ρ)1/4 (ρ is the liquid density, γ is the liquid-air surface tension, and g the acceleration due to gravity), unlike what is predicted by the inviscid theory.