Hydraulic jumps & the role of surface tension

Recent experiments involving generation of a hydraulic jump in liquid flows have led to a number of disputes about the role of surface tension in the process. This in turn instigated a revision of the main mechanisms and criteria of the jump formation. To clarify the issue of the surface tension effects, we have analysed liquid flows with a hydraulic jump region in the framework of a full depth-averaged thin film model (DAM). After benchmarking the model, we have performed broad parametric analysis of the problem. It has been established that while there is excellent agreement with the laminar flow observations, the surface tension effects only contribute to the shape of the transition region, but do not affect the position of the jump, that is, they are practically negligible. The results have repercussions on further developments of the jump formation theory, in particular, on the role of turbulence effects.