Soliton solutions of the KP equation with V-shape initial waves

We consider the initial value problems of the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili (KP) equation for symmetric V-shape initial waves consisting of two semi-infinite line solitons with the same amplitude. Those are particularly important for studies of large amplitude waves such as tsunami in shallow water. Numerical simulations show that the solutions of the initial value problem approach asymptotically to certain exact solutions of the KP equation found recently in [1]. We then use a chord diagram to explain the asymptotic result. This provides an analytical method to study asymptotic behavior for the initial value problem of the KP equation. We also demonstrate a real experiment of shallow water waves which may represent the solution discussed in this communication.