scholarly journals Diffusion of a Passive Scalar in a Two-dimensional Channel Flow

1973 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 327 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Manton

The asymptotic representation of the distribution of a passive scalar within a two-dimensional channel flow is derived. The distribution is shown to be Gaussian with a skewness and longitudinal variance determined primarily by the mean shear. The distributions corresponding to both laminar and turbulent open channel flows are discussed.

2007 ◽  
Vol 574 ◽  
pp. 465-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. HURTHER ◽  
U. LEMMIN ◽  
E. A. TERRAY

Acoustic Doppler velocity profiler (ADVP) measurements of instantaneous three-dimensional velocity profiles over the entire turbulent boundary layer height, δ, of rough-bed open-channel flows at moderate Reynolds numbers show the presence of large scale coherent shear stress structures (called LC3S herein) in the zones of uniformly retarded streamwise momentum. LC3S events over streamwise distances of several boundary layer thicknesses dominate the mean shear dynamics. Polymodal histograms of short streamwise velocity samples confirm the subdivision of uniform streamwise momentum into three zones also observed by Adrian et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 422, 2000, p. 1). The mean streamwise dimension of the zones varies between 1δ and 2.5δ. In the intermediate region (0.2<z/δ<0.75), the contribution of conditionally sampled u'w' events to the mean vertical turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) flux as a function of threshold level H is found to be generated by LC3S events above a critical threshold level Hmax for which the ascendant net momentum flux between LC3S of ejection and sweep types is maximal. The vertical profile of Hmax is nearly constant over the intermediate region, with a value of 5 independent of the flow conditions. Very good agreement is found for all flow conditions including the free-stream shear flows studied in Adrian et al. (2000). If normalized by the squared bed friction velocity, the ascendant net momentum flux containing 90% of the mean TKE flux is equal to 20% of the shear stress due to bed friction. In the intermediate region this value is nearly constant for all flow conditions investigated herein. It can be deduced that free-surface turbulence in open-channel flows originates from processes driven by LC3S, associated with the zonal organization of streamwise momentum. The good agreement with mean quadrant distribution results in the literature implies that LC3S identified in this study are common features in the outer region of shear flows.


1976 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 531-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roscoe G. Jackson

The bursting process in turbulent boundary layers provides new insight on turbulence phenomena, mechanics of sedimentation, and genesis of bedforms in natural geophysical flows. Recent visualization experiments suggest that the turbulent boundary layer can be divided into an inner zone, whose essential characteristics scale with inner (wall) variables, and an outer zone, whose properties scale with the fluid-dynamic variables of the entire flow. The inner zone is distinguished by (i) a viscous sublayer displaying spanwise alternations of high-and low-speed streaks and (ii) episodic disruption by lift-ups of low-speed streaks. Oscillatory growth and breakup stages of the Stanford model of bursting characterize the turbulent structure of the outer zone. The burst cycle exists in turbulent boundary layers of all natural flows except perhaps (i) open-channel flows in the upper part of the upper flow regime and (ii) wind-generated surface waves.Fluid motions described as kolks and boils in incompressible open-channel flows correspond to the oscillatory growth stage andthe late oscillatory growthand breakup stages, respectively, of the Stanford model of bursting. Supporting evidence includes (i) close similarity of gross fluid motions, (ii) equivalent scaling of boils and bursts, and (iii) intensification of boils and bursts in adverse pressure gradients and over rough beds. McQuivey's (1973) turbulence measurements show that the Eulerian integral time scaleTEscales with the same outer variables asboilperiodicity and burst periodicity. It is hypothesized thatTEequals the mean duration of bursts at a point in the flow.Bedforms governed by the turbulent structure of the inner zone (microforms) cannot form if the sublayer is disrupted by bed roughness. The conditions for the existence of two common microforms and their spacings scale with the inner variables. Grain roughness increases the vertical intensity of the turbulence (by enhancing lift-ups) within the inner zone, thereby explaining textural differences between the coarse ripple and fine ripple bed stages of Moss (1972).Mesoforms respond to the fluid-dynamical regime in the outer zone and scale with the outer variables. The mean spacing of dunelike large-scale ripples in equilibrium open-channel flows is proportional to the boundary-layer thickness and equals the length scale formed by the product of the free-stream velocity and the boil period.Strong upward flow in a burst provides the vertical anisotropy in the turbulence which is needed to suspend sediment. Bursting promotes the entrain-ment of more and coarser sediment than tractive forces alone can accomplish.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 780-794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minakshee Mahananda ◽  
Prashanth Reddy Hanmaiahgari ◽  
Ram Balachandar

This study attempts to unravel the effect of aspect ratio on the turbulence characteristics in developing and fully developed narrow open channel flows. In this regard, experiments were conducted in a rough bed open channel flow. Instantaneous 3D velocities were acquired using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter at various locations along the centerline of the flume. The variables of interest include the mean components of the flow velocity, turbulence intensity, wall normal Reynolds shear stress, correlation coefficient, turbulence kinetic energy, and anisotropy. A new correlation between the equivalent roughness and velocity shift from the smooth wall logarithmic equation as a function of aspect ratio is proposed. Aspect ratio was found to influence the velocity characteristics throughout the depth in the developing flow region, while the effects are confined to the outer layer for fully developed flows. New equations to describe the variation of turbulence intensities and turbulent kinetic energy are proposed for narrow open channel flows. Reynolds stress anisotropy analysis reveals that level of anisotropy in narrow open channel flow is less than in wide open channel flows. Finally, a linear regression model is proposed to predict flow development length in narrow open channel flows with a rough bed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 05024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Proust ◽  
Vladimir Nikora

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.


RBRH ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arlan Scortegagna Almeida ◽  
Vladimir Caramori Borges de Souza

ABSTRACT Hydrometric measurements undertaken in channels with high velocities are conditioned to the particularities of the flow, which is often characterized by instantaneous fluctuations and disturbances on the free surface. In such cases, the uncertainties associated with velocity fluctuations exceed the precision offered by the instruments that are employed in conventional techniques. A reasonable accuracy of the results is therefore sufficient to accomplish the objective of the measurements. The use of devices based on Pitot’s principle in fast open-channel flows could be an effective alternative to conventional velocity meters. This study aimed to develop a Pitot tube in its simplest configuration and evaluate its performance in a laboratory channel at velocities ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 m/s. The uncertainties in the static and total head readings were propagated to the output velocities, showing that the device built has the potential for measurements over 1.2 m/s, but it is not recommended for low velocities (<0.6 m/s). The results were compared to those taken using an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV). The instantaneous velocity readings indicated uncertainties of the same order of magnitude in both instruments. The differences between the mean velocities measured by the Pitot tube and the ADV were restricted to an agreement range of 15%, which is expected to be gradually reduced with further increase in flow velocity. The results showed the similar performances of both devices regarding the higher velocity estimates. Therefore, velocity meters should be developed to employ Pitot devices as an alternative method in high-velocity open-channel flows.


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