Abstract
In this study, a mathematical model of axisymmetrical oil spread on calm water is developed. Two basic equations are used to express the characteristics of oil slick: one is the conservation of volume and the other is the r-component of the equation of motion. By using the kinematic wave theory, those equations are transformed into characteristic equations along the characteristic curve. These simultaneous equations are solved to give the spreading rate of the oil front. This model describes the motion of the oil slick ranging from the gravity-inertial to the gravity-viscous spread. The theory is examined by comparing it with the experiments for the spread of continuously spilled oil from a small outlet onto open calm water.
