Size and effect on the mean flow of large-scale horizontal coherent structures in open-channel flows: an experimental studyThis paper is one of a selection of papers in this Special Issue in honour of Professor M. Selim Yalin (1925–2007).

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 1643-1655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Maria Ferreira da Silva ◽  
Habib Ahmari
Keyword(s):  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Coherent Structures ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Open Channel ◽  
Channel Flows ◽  
Flow Depth ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Velocity Measurements ◽  
Open Channel Flows ◽  
The Mean

The size of the largest horizontal coherent structures (HCSs) of turbulence in open-channel flows is investigated experimentally on the basis of three series of flow velocity measurements. These are further used to explore the dynamics and morphological consequences of HCSs. The flow velocity measurements were carried out in a 21 m long and 1 m wide channel, with a bed formed by sand with average grain size of 2 mm. The bed surface was flat. The turbulent and subcritical flow under investigation was uniform, with a flow depth of 4 cm. The bed slope of 0.0015 was such that, for the present flow depth, the bed shear stress acting on the bed was substantially below the threshold for initiation of motion, thus ensuring that the bed remained flat throughout the measurements. To the knowledge of the writers, this work is a first attempt to systematically investigate HCSs in open-channel flows. It should be viewed as an extension to the case of horizontal structures of work previously carried out by a number of authors on large-scale organized turbulence motion in open-channel flows, so far focusing exclusively on vertical coherent structures (VCSs). The horizontal burst length was found to be between five and seven times the flow width. A slight internal meandering of the flow caused by the superimposition of burst sequences on the mean flow was detectable. Both of these findings lend support to the longstanding belief expressed by many prominent researchers that the formation of large-scale river forms is directly related to the large-scale turbulence. In particular, the present measurements for the first time provide some direct evidence in support of hypotheses previously raised by Yalin and da Silva regarding the formation of alternate bars and meanders through the action of HCSs on the mean flow and the mobile bed and banks.

Coherent Structures In Open-Channel Flows Over a Fixed Dune

2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (5) ◽  
pp. 858-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wusi Yue ◽  
Ching-Long Lin ◽  
Virendra C. Patel
Keyword(s):  
Free Surface ◽  
Coherent Structures ◽  
Open Channel ◽  
Surface Deformation ◽  
Channel Flows ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Open Channel Flows ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
The Mean

Turbulent open-channel flow over a two-dimensional laboratory-scale dune is studied using large eddy simulation. Free surface motion is simulated using level set method. Two subgrid scale models, namely, dynamic Smagorinsky model and dynamic two-parameter model, are employed for assessing model effects on the free surface flow. The present numerical predictions of mean flow field and turbulence statistics are in good agreement with experimental data. The mean flow can be divided into two zones, an inner zone where turbulence strongly depends on the dune bed geometry and an outer layer free from the direct influence of the bed geometry. Streaky structures are observed in the wall layer after flow reattachment. Quadrant two events are found to prevail in near-wall and near-surface motions, indicating the predominance of turbulence ejections in open-channel flows. Large-scale coherent structures are produced behind the dune crest by a strong shear layer riding over the recirculation zone. These quasistreamwise tubelike vortical structures are transported downstream with the mean flow and most are destructed before arriving at the next crest. Free surface deformation is visualized, demonstrating complex patterns of upwelling and downdraft.

scholarly journals Flow structure in compound open-channel flows in the presence of transverse currents

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 05024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Proust ◽  
Vladimir Nikora
Keyword(s):  
Coherent Structures ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Open Channel ◽  
Mixing Layer ◽  
Free Surface Flows ◽  
Channel Flows ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Open Channel Flows ◽  
Secondary Currents ◽  
Flow Modification

The structure of free-surface flows is experimentally investigated in a laboratory flume with a compound cross-section consisting of a central main channel (MC) and two adjacent floodplains (FPs). The study focuses on the effects of transverse currents on: (i) mixing layers and quasi-two-dimensional coherent structures at the interfaces between MC and FPs; (ii) secondary currents developing across the channel; and (iii) large and very-large-scale motions that were recently observed in non-compound open channel flows. Transverse currents represent spanwise depth- and time-averaged flow from MC to FPs or vice versa. The study is based on one-point and two-point ADV measurements. Streamwise non-uniform flows are generated by imposing an imbalance in the discharge distribution between MC and FPs at the flume entrance, keeping the total flow rate the same for all scenarios. It is shown that even small transverse currents can be very effective in flow modification, as they can significantly displace the mixing layer, shear-layer turbulence, and coherent structures towards MC or FP, depending on the current direction. They can also alter the distribution and strength of the secondary currents. The interactions of quasi-two-dimensional coherent structures, very-large-scale motions, and secondary currents at different conditions are also part of this study.

The nature of saltation and of ‘bed-load’ transport in water

1973 ◽  
Vol 332 (1591) ◽  
pp. 473-504 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Bed Load ◽  
Flow Depth ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Stream Power ◽  
Fluid Turbulence ◽  
Load Transport ◽  
Bed Load Transport ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Flow Velocity

Owing to observational difficulties the distinction between a ‘suspended’ load of solids transported by a stream and a ‘ bed-load ’ has long remained undefined. Recently, however, certain critical experiments have thrown much light on the nature of bed-load transport. In particular, it has been shown that bed-load transport, by saltation, occurs in the absence of fluid turbulence and must therefore be due to a separate dynamic process from that of transport in suspension by the internal eddy motion of a turbulent fluid. It has been further shown that the forward motion of saltating solids is opposed by a frictional force of the same order as the immersed weight of the solids, the friction coefficient approximating to that given by the angle of slip. The maintenance of steady motion therefore requires a predictable rate of energy dissipation by the transporting fluid. The fluid thrust necessary to maintain the motion is shown to be exerted by virtue of a mean slip velocity which is predictable in the same way as, and approxim ates to, the terminal fall velocity of the solid. The mean thrust, and therefore the transport rate of saltating solids, are therefore predictable in terms of the fluid velocity close to the bed, at a distance from it, within the saltation zone, of a ‘centre of fluid thrust’ analogous to the ‘centre of pressure’. This velocity, which is not directly measurable in water streams, can be got from a knowledge of stream depth and mean flow velocity. Thus a basic energy equation is obtained relating the rate of transporting work done to available fluid transporting power. This is shown to be applicable to the transport both of wind-blown sand, and of water-driven solids of all sizes and larger than that of medium sand. Though the mean flow velocity is itself unpredictable, the total stream power, which is the product of this quantity times the bed shear stress, is readily measurable. But since the mean flow velocity is an increasing function of flow depth, the transport of solids expressed in terms of total stream power must decrease with increasing flow depth/grain size ratio. This considerable variation with flow depth has not been previously recognised. It explains the gross inconsistencies found in the existing experimental data. The theoretical variation is shown to approximate very closely to that found in recent critical experiments in which transport rates were measured at different constant flow depths. The theory, which is largely confirmed by these and other earlier experiments, indicates that suspension by fluid turbulence of mineral solids larger than those of medium sands does not become appreciable until the bed shear stress is increased to a value exceeding 12 times its threshold value for the bed material considered. This range of unsuspended transport decreases rapidly, however, as the grain size is reduced till, at a certain critical size, suspension should occur at the threshold of bed movement.

Coherent structures and dominant frequencies in a turbulent three-dimensional diffuser

2012 ◽  
Vol 699 ◽  
pp. 320-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Malm ◽  
Philipp Schlatter ◽  
Dan S. Henningson
Keyword(s):  
Coherent Structures ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Bulk Velocity ◽  
Time Signal ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Dominant Frequencies

AbstractDominant frequencies and coherent structures are investigated in a turbulent, three-dimensional and separated diffuser flow at $\mathit{Re}= 10\hspace{0.167em} 000$ (based on bulk velocity and inflow-duct height), where mean flow characteristics were first studied experimentally by Cherry, Elkins and Eaton (Intl J. Heat Fluid Flow, vol. 29, 2008, pp. 803–811) and later numerically by Ohlsson et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 650, 2010, pp. 307–318). Coherent structures are educed by proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) of the flow, which together with time probes located in the flow domain are used to extract frequency information. The present study shows that the flow contains multiple phenomena, well separated in frequency space. Dominant large-scale frequencies in a narrow band $\mathit{St}\equiv fh/ {u}_{b} \in [0. 0092, 0. 014] $ (where $h$ is the inflow-duct height and ${u}_{b} $ is the bulk velocity), yielding time periods ${T}^{\ensuremath{\ast} } = T{u}_{b} / h\in [70, 110] $, are deduced from the time signal probes in the upper separated part of the diffuser. The associated structures identified by the POD are large streaks arising from a sinusoidal oscillating motion in the diffuser. Their individual contributions to the total kinetic energy, dominated by the mean flow, are, however, small. The reason for the oscillating movement in this low-frequency range is concluded to be the confinement of the flow in this particular geometric set-up in combination with the high Reynolds number and the large separated zone on the top diffuser wall. Based on this analysis, it is shown that the bulk of the streamwise root mean square (r.m.s.) value arises due to large-scale motion, which in turn can explain the appearance of two or more peaks in the streamwise r.m.s. value. The weak secondary flow present in the inflow duct is shown to survive into the diffuser, where it experiences an imbalance with respect to the upper expanding corners, thereby giving rise to the asymmetry of the mean separated region in the diffuser.

Turbulent open-channel flows over mobile granular low-tortuosity beds: velocity distribution and friction factor

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui M L Ferreira ◽  
Rigden Y Tenzin ◽  
Ana M Ricardo
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Friction Factor ◽  
Open Channel ◽  
High Conductivity ◽  
Channel Flows ◽  
Rough Boundary ◽  
Roughness Parameters ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Open Channel Flows ◽  
Log Law

<p>Open channel flows over granular mobile beds are affected by the nature and intensity of hyporheic/surface mass and momentum exchanges. Near-bed surface mean flow and turbulence find an equilibrium with the flow in the hyporheic region and with the type and amount of granular material transported in equilibrium conditions. The processes involved in these adaptive process are not well known. This work addresses this knowledge gap and it is aimed at describing the effect of the hydraulic conductivity on the friction factor and on the parameters of the log-law that is thought to constitute a valid model for the turbulent flow in the overlapping region of fully developed hydraulically rough boundary layers over mobile cohesionless beds. To fulfil the objectives, experimental tests performed in high conductivity beds (mono-sized glass sphere beads) are compared with the existing database of low conductivity beds of Ferreira et al. (2012), keeping constant the range of values of porosity, Shields parameters and roughness Reynolds numbers. The hydraulic conductivity is varied by changing the tortuosity (and the dimensions of the pore paths) and not the porosity.</p><p>A new database of instantaneous velocities was acquired with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and processed to gather time-averaged velocities and space-time (double-averaged) quantities, namely velocities, Reynolds stresses and form-induced stresses. The hydraulic conductivity was measured for both types of bed.</p><p>The parameters of log-law obtained from high conductivity are compared with low conductivity of existing database, for mobile and immobile bed conditions. The main finding can be summarized as follows.</p><p>i. Hydraulic conductivity does not affect the location of the zero plane of the log-law, the thickness of the region above the crests where the flow is determined by roughness.</p><p>ii. Increasing the hydraulic conductivity does not appear to decrease the value of bed roughness parameters such as the roughness heigh.</p><p>iii. Higher hydraulic conductivity is associated to a structural change: the same near-bed velocity can be achieved with lower shear stress in the inner region. A lower friction factor, (<em>u</em><sub>*</sub>/<em>U</em>)<sup>2</sup>, is thus registered.</p><p>iv. Flows over high conductivity beds appear drag-reducing even if roughness parameters do not change appreciably.</p><p> </p><p>This research was partially supported by Portuguese and European funds, within the COMPETE 2020 and PORL-FEDER programs, through project PTDC/CTA-OHR/29360/2017 RiverCure</p>

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