Studying the Wake of an Island in a Macro-Tidal Estuary

Tidal flow can generate unsteady wakes, large eddies, and recirculation zones in the lee or around complex natural and artificial obstructions, such as islands, headlands, or harbours. It is essential to understand the flow patterns around such structures given the potential impacts they can have on sedimentation, the marine environment, ecology, and anthropogenic activities. In this paper, the wake around an island in a macro-tidal environment has been studied using a widely used hydro-environmental model, Telemac-2D. Current data collected using moored acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) were used to validate and refine the Telemac-2D model. Four different turbulence models and several different solver options for the k- ε model were tested in this study to assess which representation could best replicate the hydrodynamics. The classic k- ε model with the solver of conjugate residual was the most suitable method to simulate the wake in the lee of the island. The model results showed good correlation with measured data. The island wake parameter used to predict the wake behaviour and its predictions matched the model results for different tidal conditions, suggesting that the island wake parameter could be used to predict the wake behind obstacles in macro-tidal environments. The model predictions showed the development of a wake is similar between ebb and flood tides in the neap tide while showing more difference in spring tide. With the increase of velocity in the neap tide, two side-by-side vortices will appear and then changing to stable Karman Vortex Street. During the ebb phase of spring tide, the wake will develop from a stable vortex to an unstable Karman Vortex Street, while the wake remained stable with two vortices during an flood tide.

Velocity distribution in decelerating flow over rough surfaces

An experimental program was undertaken to study turbulent boundary layers formed in decelerating open channel flows. The flows over a smooth surface and three rough surfaces were examined. Tests were conducted at a subcritical Froude number (~0.2) and varying depth Reynolds numbers (64 000 < Red < 88 000). The corresponding momentum thickness Reynolds numbers were small (1000 < Reθ < 2100). The velocity measurements were undertaken using a one-component laser-Doppler anemometer. Variables such as the shear velocity, the longitudinal mean velocity, Coles' wake parameter, and Clauser's shape parameter were examined. Three different methods for determining the friction velocity were investigated for use in sloping channels. The inner region of the boundary layer was found not to be influenced by the channel slope. The log-law slope and intercept were found to be the same as that noted for canonical boundary layers. The skin friction coefficient for the sloping smooth surface tests was found to be slightly higher than that noticed for flow over a horizontal surface. As indicated by the wake parameter, the free surface, the channel slope, and the roughness of the channel affected the outer region of the boundary layer.Key words: decelerating flow, open channel, log-law, friction velocity, power law.

Convex Curvature Effect on the Wake Including Recovery from the Curvature

Streamwise convex-curvature effect including recovery process is discussed. Previous studies have demonstrated that even mild streamwise curvature has a marked effect on turbulence structure, heat transfer and skin friction coefficient. This effect is further investigated in the present study with Coles wake law. Coles previously reported that flows in or near equilibrium have a constant wake parameter depending on the strength of streamwise pressure gradient. Turbulent boundary layers on the curved and following recovery wall may not be in or near equilibrium and the wake parameter may depend upon the strength of curvature,δ/R. Different streamwise curvature strength, ranging 0.01–0.1, is tested to confirm the validity of the wake law. The ratio of wake parameter between the curved and flat wall is found to be proportional to that of skin friction coefficient for the flows in both convexly curved and recovery sections. This relationship describes the deviation of wake behavior from the flat-plate turbulent boundary layer due to convex curvature.

Integral Skin Friction Prediction for Turbulent Separated Flows

An integral method is presented for computing incompressible two-dimensional turbulent skin friction for separated flows based on the inner-variable theory. Using a velocity profile in the form of the logarithmic law and wake, continuity and momentum equations are integrated across the boundary layer in terms of inner-variables u+ and y+. With the aid of correlations relating the wake parameter to the pressure gradient parameter, derived from experimental results of several near-separating and separated flows, the governing equations are reduced to a single differential equation in skin friction. Predictions by the theory for several separated flows show satisfactory agreement with experimental data.