Breaking of gravity waves in a neighborhood of their second critical propagation speed

Experimental data on gravity shallow-water waves generated by a vertical plate moving in a predetermined manner are given. The plate completely covers the cross section of the channel. It is found that with when the wave speed exceeds the first critical value known in hydraulics, the wave retains smoothness. Breaking of the waves begins at the second critical speed (which is about 1.3 times as high), whose value coincides with the limiting propagation speed of a solitary wave.