Measurements and modeling of open-channel flows with finite semi-rigid vegetation patches

The hydrodynamics of flows through a finite length semi-rigid vegetation patch (VP) were investigated experimentally and numerically. Detailed measurements have been carried out to determine the spatial variation of velocity and turbulence profiles within the VP. The measurement results show that an intrusion region exists in which the peak Reynolds stress remains near the bed. The velocity profile is invariant within the downstream part of the VP while the Reynolds stress profile requires a longer distance to attain the spatially invariant state. Higher vegetation density leads to a shorter adjustment length of the transition region, and a higher turbulence level within the VP. The vegetation density used in the present study permits the passing through of water and causes the peak Reynolds stress and turbulence kinetic energy each the maximum at the downstream end of the patch. A 3D Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes model incorporating the Spalart–Allmaras turbulence closure was employed subsequently to replicate the flow development within the VP. The model reproduced transitional flow characteristics well and the results are in good agreement with the experimental data. Additional numerical experiments show that the adjustment length can be scaled by the water depth, mean velocity and maximum shear stress. Empirical equations of the adjustment lengths for mean velocity and Reynolds stress were derived with coefficients quantified from the numerical simulation results.     

Coupling between free-surface fluctuations,velocity fluctuations and turbulent Reynolds stresses during the upstream propagation of positive surges,bores and compression waves

In open channel, canals and rivers, a rapid increase in flow depth will induce a positive surge, also called bore or compression wave. The positive surge is a translating hydraulic jump. Herein new experiments were conducted in a large-size rectangular channel to characterise the unsteady turbulent properties, including the coupling between free-surface and velocity fluctuations. Experiments were repeated 25 times and the data analyses yielded the instantaneous median and instantaneous fluctuations of free-surface elevation, velocities and turbulent Reynolds stresses. The passage of the surge front was associated with large free-surface fluctuations, comparable to those observed in stationary hydraulic jumps, coupled with large instantaneous velocity fluctuations. The bore propagation was associated with large turbulent Reynolds stresses and instantaneous shear stress fluctuations, during the passage of the surge. A broad range of shear stress levels was observed underneath the bore front, with the probability density of the tangential stresses distributed normally and the normal stresses distributed in a skewed single-mode fashion. Maxima in normal and tangential stresses were observed shortly after the passage of a breaking bore roller toe. The maximum Reynolds stresses occurred after the occurrence of the maximum free-surface fluctuations, and this time lag implied some interaction between the free-surface fluctuations and shear stress fluctuations beneath the surge front, and possibly some causal effect.     

Hydrodynamics and turbulence in emergent and sparsely vegetated open channel flow

This present study reports the results of an experimental study characterizing thorough variation of turbulent hydrodynamics and flow distribution in emergent and sparsely vegetated open channel flow. An emergent and rigid sparse vegetation patch with regular spacing between stems along the flow and transverse directions was fixed in the central region of the cross-section of open channel. Experiments were conducted in subcritical flow conditions and velocity measurements were obtained with an acoustic Doppler Velocimetry system. Large variations of the turbulence intensities, Reynolds shear stress, turbulent kinetic energy and vortical motions are found in and around the vegetation patch. At any cross-section through the interior of the vegetation patch, streamwise velocity decreases with increase in streamwise length and the velocity profiles converge from the log-law to a linear profile with increasing slope. Time-averaged lateral and vertical velocities inside the vegetation patch increase with increasing streamwise distance and converge from negative values to positive values. Turbulence intensities interior of the sparse vegetation patch are more than those of without the vegetation patch. Similar to the trend of streamwise velocity profiles inside the vegetation, turbulence intensities and longitudinal-normal Reynolds shear stress profile decreases with streamwise direction. In the interior of the vegetation patch and downstream of the trailing edge, turbulent kinetic energy profiles are exhibiting irregular fluctuations and the maximum values are occurring in the outer layer. Analysis of flow distribution confirms sparse vegetation patch is inducing a serpentine flow pattern in its vicinity. At the leading edge, flow is rushing towards the right hand sidewall, and at the trailing edge, flow is turning to the left hand sidewall. In between the leading and trailing edges, the streamlines are following a zig-zag fashion at varied degree along the streamwise and lateral directions. Immediate upstream of the leading edge and in the interior of the vegetation patch, vortex motion is clearly visible and the vortices are stretched along the width of the channel with streamwise direction.     

Design and Testing of a Turbulence Probe for Harsh Flows

The force of wind on the ground created by turbulent eddies is commonly used to describe the horizontal flux of material during wind erosion. Here we present the Murdoch Turbulence Probe, an instrument for use in both clean and eroding flows which uses pressure differences to measure the three components of wind velocity. Correlation techniques calculate the forces near the ground and turbulence statistics in nearly real time, including turbulent velocity fluctuations from less than 0.1 Hz to 200 Hz, mean flow velocities, Reynolds stresses as well as the integral length and time scales. In the portable wind-tunnel used by Agriculture Western Australia, turbulence statistics were recorded over stable surfaces and in blowing sand from the initiation of erosion up to the time the sand supply was exhausted. Estimates of the friction velocity derived from the turbulence probe were compared with estimates obtained from the wind speed profile measured with a rake of pitot and static tubes. The Murdoch Turbulence Probe appears to work well in sandblasting conditions. Relative turbulence intensities ranged from 0.11 to 0.2 and are in close agreement with values in the literature. The ratio of the turbulence to the friction velocity (3 to 3.2) is at the high end of the reported range. The Reynolds stress measurements agree closely with predictions of the threshold friction velocities of the sand and estimates from the wind speed profile with a von Kármán constant of about 0.3, lower than the commonly accepted value of 0.4. We suggest that the wind-tunnel profile represents the `outer layer' of the boundary-layer that may best be described by a `Wake Law' or `Defect Law'. At about 54 mm above the surface, the friction velocity decreases from 0.64 m/s to 0.39 m/s and the mean velocity increases from 9.6 m/s to 11.6 m/s as the supply of sand is depleted. In addition to the friction velocity, other scales may be necessary to characterise the overriding effect of the wind and in extending wind-tunnel results to the field.     

Turbulent flow characteristics and drag over 2-D forward-facing dune shaped structures with two different stoss-side slopes

The present paper explores the characteristics of turbulent flow and drag over two artificial 2-D forward-facing waveform structures with two different stoss side slopes of $50^{\circ }$ and $90^{\circ },$ respectively. Both structures possessed a common slanted lee side slope of $6^{\circ }.$ Flume experiments were conducted at the Fluvial Mechanics Laboratory of Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata. The velocity data were analyzed to identify the spatial changes in turbulent flow addressing the flow separation region with recirculating eddy, the Reynolds stresses, the turbulent events associated with burst-sweep cycles and the drag over two upstream-facing bedforms for Reynolds number $Re_h=1.44\times 10^5.$ The divergence at the stoss side slope between the two structures revealed significant changes in the mean flow and turbulence. Comparison showed that during the flood-tide condition there was no flow separation region on the gentle lee side of the structure with smaller slope at the stoss side, while for the other structure with vertical stoss side slope a thick flow separation region with recirculating eddy was observed at the gentle lee side just downstream of the crest. The recirculating eddy induced on the lee-side had a strong influence on the resistance that the structure exerts to the flow due to loss of energy through turbulence. In contrast, a great amount of reduction in drag was observed in the case of smaller stoss side sloped structure as there was no flow separation. The quadrant analysis was also used to highlight the turbulent event evolution along the bed form structures under flood-tide conditions.     

Turbulence suppression by suspended sediment within a geophysical flow

Experiments are performed in a mixing box to evaluate the effect of suspended sediment on turbulence generated by an oscillating grid. Quartz-density sand of varying sizes and concentrations is used, and particle image velocimetry is employed to quantify only the fluid phase. Results show that (1) while a relatively large secondary flow field is present in the box, turbulence is a maximum near the grid and it decreases systematically toward the water surface; (2) relatively high concentrations of fine sediment can markedly alter this secondary flow field and significantly decrease both the time-mean and turbulent kinetic energy within the flow, yet these same sediment concentrations have little effect on the integral time and length scales derived for each velocity component; and (3) the overall turbulence suppression observed can be related to the transfer of energy from the fluid to the sediment and the maintenance of a suspended sediment load rather than commonly employed turbulence modulation criteria. These experimental data demonstrate unequivocally that the presence of a suspended sediment load can significantly reduce overall turbulent kinetic energy, and these results should be applicable to a range of sediment-laden geophysical flows.     

A numerical (LES) investigation of a shallow-water, mid-latitude, tidally-driven boundary layer

We investigate turbulent mixing in a tidally driven, mid-latitude, shallow-water basin. The study is carried out numerically at a laboratory-scale, using large-eddy simulation. We compared the results of the simulation with those of a correspondent purely oscillatory flow (Stokes boundary layer). The effect of rotation on the flow dynamics is twofold. First, rotation gives rise to a mean spanwise flow that concurs to redistribute the turbulent energy among the Reynolds stresses, in particular between the horizontal directions, thus increasing the mixing across the water column and thickening the layer where developed turbulence is observable. Second, the presence of the horizontal component of the background vorticity (latitude effect) breaks the symmetry between the two semi-cycles of the oscillation, since turbulence results suppressed/enhanced during the first/second semi-cycle. These two effects significantly modify the turbulent characteristics with respect to the purely oscillating flow, although the mechanisms that generates turbulence present similar features. The qualitative agreement between our results and some measurements carried out in two sites with characteristics similar to the case analyzed suggests that the outcomes here provided may be of general use for the analysis of mid-latitude, neutrally stratified, shallow-water basins mainly driven by semi-diurnal tidal currents.     

Experimental Study of the Criteria of Flow Laminarization in Two-Dimensional Dense Gas Plumes

Laminarization of flow in a two-dimensional dense gas plume was experimentally investigated in this study. The plume was created by releasing CO₂ through a ground-level line source into a simulated turbulent boundary layer over an aerodynamically rough surface in a meteorological wind tunnel. The bulk Richardson number (Ri_*), based on negative plume buoyancy, plume thickness, and friction velocity, was varied over a wide range so that the effects of stable stratification on plume laminarization could be observed. A variety of ambient wind speeds as well as three different sizes of roughness arrays were used so that possible effects of roughness Reynolds number (Re_*) on plume laminarization could also be identified. Both flow visualization methods and quantitative measurements of velocity and intermittency of turbulence were used to provide quantitative assessments of plume laminarization.Flow visualization provided an overall picture of how the plume was affected by the negative buoyancy. With increasing Ri_*, both the plume depth and the vertical mixing were significantly suppressed, while upstream propagation of the plume from the source was enhanced. The most important feature of the flow revealed by visualization was the laminarization of flow in the lower part of the plume, which appeared to be closely related to both Ri_* and Re_*.Measurements within the simulated dense gas plumes revealed the influence of the stable stratification on mean velocity and turbulence intensity profiles. Both the mean velocity and turbulence intensity were significantly reduced near the surface; and these reductions systematically depended on Ri_*. The roughness Reynolds number also had considerable influence on the mean flow and turbulence structure of the dense gas plumes.An intermittency analysis technique was developed and applied to the digitized instantaneous velocity signals. It not only confirmed the general flow picture within the dense plume indicated by the flow visualization, but also clearly demonstrated the changes of flow regime with variations in Ri_* and Re_*. Most importantly, based on this intermittency analysis, simple criteria for characterizing different flow regimes are formulated; these may be useful in predicting when plume laminarization might occur.     

Turbulence structure and coherent vortices in open-channel flows with wind-induced water waves

When wind-induced water waves appear over the free-surface flows such as natural rivers and artificial channels, large amounts of oxygen gas and heat are transported toward the river bed through the interface between water and wind layers. In contrast, a bed region is a kind of turbulent boundary layer, in which turbulence generation and its transport is promoted by the production of bed shear stress. In particular, coherent hairpin vortices, together with strong ejection events toward the outer part of the layer, promote mass and momentum exchanges between the inner and outer layers. It is inferred that such a near-bed turbulence may be influenced significantly by these air–water interfacial fluctuations accompanied with free-surface velocity shear and wind-induced water waves. However, these wind effects on the wall-turbulence structure are less understood. To address these exciting and challenging topics, we conducted particle imagery velocimetry (PIV) measurements in open-channel flows combined with air flows, and furthermore the present measured data allows us to investigate the effects of air–water interactions on turbulence structure through the whole depth region.     

Dominant features in three-dimensional turbulence structure: comparison of non-uniform accelerating and decelerating flows

The results are presented from an experimental study to investigate three-dimensional turbulence structure profiles, including turbulence intensity and Reynolds stress, of different non-uniform open channel flows over smooth bed in subcritical flow regime. In the analysis, the uniform flow profiles have been used to compare with those of the non-uniform flows to investigate their time-averaged spatial flow turbulence structure characteristics. The measured non-uniform velocity profiles are used to verify the von Karman constant κ and to estimate sets of log-law integration constant B_r and wake parameter П, where their findings are also compared with values from previous studies. From κ, B_r and П findings, it has been found that the log-wake law can sufficiently represent the non-uniform flow in its non-modified form, and all κ, B_r and П follow universal rules for different bed roughness conditions. The non-uniform flow experiments also show that both the turbulence intensity and Reynolds stress are governed well by exponential pressure gradient parameter β equations. Their exponential constants are described by quadratic functions in the investigated β range. Through this experimental study, it has been observed that the decelerating flow shows higher empirical constants, in both the turbulence intensity and Reynolds stress compared to the accelerating flow. The decelerating flow also has stronger dominance to determine the flow non-uniformity, because it presents higher Reynolds stress profile than uniform flow, whereas the accelerating flow does not.     

Flow structure and turbulence characteristics downstream of a spanwise suspended linear array

Laboratory experiments are conducted to quantify the mean flow structure and turbulence properties downstream of a spanwise suspended linear array in a uniform ambient water flow using Particle Tracking Velocimetry. Eighteen experimental scenarios, with four depth ratios (array depth to water column depth) of 0.35, 0.52, 0.78, and 0.95 and bulk Reynolds number (length scale is the array depth) from 11,600 to 68,170, are investigated. Three sub-layers form downstream of the array: (1) an internal wake zone, where the time-averaged velocity decreases with increasing distance downstream, (2) a shear layer which increases in vertical extent with increasing distance downstream of the array, and the rate of the increase is independent of the bulk Reynolds number or the depth ratio, and (3) an external wake layer with enhanced velocity under the array. The location of the shear layer is dependent on the depth ratio. The spatially averaged and normalized TKE of the wake has a short production region, followed by a decay region which is comparable to grid turbulence decay and is dependent on the depth ratio. The results suggest that the shear layer increases the transfer of horizontal momentum into the internal wake zone from the fluid outside of the array and that the turbulence in the internal wake zone can be modeled similarly to that of grid turbulence.     

Simulation of Ekman Boundary Layers by Large Eddy Model with Dynamic Mixed Subfilter Closure

Theoretical analysis of boundary layer turbulence has suggested a feasibility of sufficiently accurate turbulence resolving simulations at relatively coarse meshes. However, large eddy simulation (LES) codes, which employ traditional eddy-viscosity turbulence closures, fail to provide adequate turbulence statistics at coarse meshes especially within a surface layer. Manual tuning of parameters in these turbulence closures may correct low order turbulence statistics but severely harms spectra of turbulence kinetic energy (TKE). For more than decade, engineering LES codes successfully employ dynamic turbulence closures. A dynamic Smagorinsky turbulence closure (DSM) has been already tried in environmental LES. The DSM is able to provide adequate turbulence statistics at coarse meshes but it is not completely consistent with the LES equations. This paper investigates applicability of an advanced dynamic mixed turbulence closure (DMM) to simulations of Ekman boundary layers of high Reynolds number flows. The DMM differs from the DSM by explicit calculation of the Leonard term in the turbulence stress tensor. The Horizontal Array Turbulence Study (HATS) field program has revealed that the Leonard term is indeed an important component of the real turbulence stress tensor. This paper presents validation of a new LES code LESNIC. The study shows that the LES code with the DMM provides rather accurate low order turbulence statistics and the TKE spectra at very coarse meshes. These coarse LES maintain more energetic small scale fluctuations of velocity especially within the surface layer. This is critically important for success of simulations. Accurate representation of higher order turbulence statistics, however, requires essentially better LES resolution. The study also shows that LES of the Ekman boundary layer cannot be directly compared with conventionally neutral atmospheric boundary layers. The depth of the boundary layer is an important scaling parameter for turbulence statistics.     

Hydrodynamics and bed stability of open channel flows with submerged foliaged plants

In this work we investigate experimentally and numerically the flow structure around foliaged plants deployed in a channel with gravels on the bed under submerged and barely submerged conditions. Velocity and Reynolds stress were measured by using a NORTEK Vectrino profiler. Visual observation shows that the initial motion of gravels is easier to be triggered under the condition of flow with barely submerged vegetation. This is confirmed by the measured velocity, Reynolds stress and total kinetic energy (TKE) profiles. The velocity exhibits a speed up in the near-bed region, and the associated Reynolds stress and TKE increase there. A 3D numerical model is then verified against the experiments and used to investigate systematically the effect of degree of submergence of foliaged plants on the channel bed shear stress. The results show that the maximum bed shear stress occurs when the foliage is situated slightly below the water surface, which can enhance channel bed instability.     

Experimental study of recirculating flows generated by lateral shock waves in very large channels

Due to the lack of data on hydraulic-jump dynamics in very large channels, the present paper describes the main characteristics of the velocity field and turbulence in a large rectangular channel with a width of 4 m. Although a hydraulic jump is always treated as a wave that is transversal to the channel wall, in the case of this study it has a trapezoidal front shape, first starting from a point at the sidewalls and then developing downstream in an oblique manner, finally giving rise to a trapezoidal shape. The oblique wave front may be regarded as a lateral shockwave that arises from a perturbation at a certain point of the lateral wall and travels obliquely toward the centreline of the channel. The experimental work was carried out at the Coastal Engineering Laboratory of the Water Engineering and Chemistry Department of the Technical University of Bari (Italy). In addition to the hydraulic jump formation, a large recirculating flow zone starts to develop from the separating point of the lateral shock wave and a separate boundary layer occurs. Intensive measurements of the streamwise and spanwise flow velocity components along one-half width of the channel were taken using a bidimensional Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV). The water surface elevation was obtained by means of an ultrasonic profiler. Velocity vectors, transversal velocity profiles, turbulence intensities and Reynolds shear stresses were all investigated. The experimental results of the separated boundary layer were compared with numerical predictions and related work presented in literature and showed good agreement. The transversal velocity profiles indicated the presence of adverse pressure gradient zones and the law of the wall appears to govern the region around the separated boundary layer.     

Experimental investigation of bubbly flow and turbulence in hydraulic jumps

Many environmental problems are linked to multiphase flows encompassing ecological issues, chemical processes and mixing or diffusion, with applications in different engineering fields. The transition from a supercritical flow to a subcritical motion constitutes a hydraulic jump. This flow regime is characterised by strong interactions between turbulence, free surface and air–water mixing. Although a hydraulic jump contributes to some dissipation of the flow kinetic energy, it is also associated with increases of turbulent shear stresses and the development of turbulent eddies with implications in terms of scour, erosion and sediment transport. Despite a number of experimental, theoretical and numerical studies, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the physical mechanisms involved in the diffusion and air–water mixing processes within hydraulic jumps, as well as on the interaction between the free-surface and turbulence. New experimental investigations were undertaken in hydraulic jumps with Froude numbers up to Fr = 8.3. Two-phase flow measurements were performed with phase-detection conductivity probes. Basic results related to the distributions of void fraction, bubble frequency and mean bubble chord length are presented. New developments are discussed for the interfacial bubble velocities and their fluctuations, characterizing the turbulence level and integral time scales of turbulence representing a “lifetime” of the longitudinal bubbly flow structures. The analyses show good agreement with previous studies in terms of the vertical profiles of void fraction, bubble frequency and mean bubble chord length. The dimensionless distributions of interfacial velocities compared favourably with wall-jet equations. Measurements showed high turbulence levels. Turbulence time scales were found to be dependent on the distance downstream of the toe as well as on the distance to the bottom showing the importance of the lower (channel bed) and upper (free surface) boundary conditions on the turbulence structure.     

Model of turbulence penetration into a suspension layer on a sediment bed and effect on vertical solute transfer

The vertical diffusional mass (solute) transfer through a suspended sediment layer, e.g. at the bottom of a lake, reservoir or estuary, by the propagation of velocity fluctuations from above was investigated. The attenuation of the velocity fluctuations in the suspension layer and the associated effect on solute transfer through the suspension layer was simulated. To represent large eddies traveling downstream in water over a high-concentration suspended sediment layer, a streamwise velocity fluctuation moving in downstream direction was imposed along the upper boundary of the suspension layer. Velocity fluctuations and downstream velocity were normalized by the shearvelocity (U_*) at the top of the suspension layer. Streamwise and vertical velocity components inside the suspension layer, were obtained from the 2-D continuity and the Navier–Stokes equations. The persistence of turbulence with depth—as it penetrates from the overlying water into the suspension layer—was found to depend on its amplitude, its period, and on the apparent viscosity of the suspension. The turbulence was found to propagate efficiently into the suspension layer when its frequency is low, and the apparent viscosity of the suspension is high. Effects on vertical mass transfer were parameterized by penetration depth and effective diffusion coefficient, and related to apparent viscosity of the suspension, Schmidt number and shear velocity on top of the suspension layer. The enhancement of turbulence penetration by viscosity is similar to the flow near an oscillating flat plate (Stokes’ second problem), but is opposite to turbulence penetration into a stationary porous and permeable sediment bed. The information is applicable to water quality modeling mear the sediment/water interface of lakes, river impoundments and estuaries.     

Energy dissipation estimates in oscillating grid setup: LDV and PIV measurements

The dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy has been increasingly used as a scaling parameter to integrate microbiological accrual and metabolic rates with fluid-flow motion in natural and engineered aquatic ecosystems. The estimation of turbulent kinetic energy under field conditions and the generation of energy dissipation rates under controlled laboratory conditions with microbiological organisms are necessities required to integrate environmental/ecological laboratory protocols with a moving fluid in the environment. Turbulent fluid-flow conditions were generated in an oscillating grid setup, and turbulence variables were quantified using laser-Doppler velocimetry (LDV) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) measuring techniques. The rate of dissipation of the turbulent kinetic energy in the setup ranged from 10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁴ m²/s³ and was similar to the levels of energy dissipation commonly reported in engineered and natural aquatic ecosystems. Time-averaged velocities were close to zero with the root-mean-square velocity ratios about 1, indicating nearly isotropic fluid-flow conditions in the setup. The velocity spectra, obtained by stationary LDV measurements for the vertical and horizontal velocity components across the setup revealed the existence of inertial subrange with the frequency power scaling law of “ω ^−5/3.” The estimated Eulerian frequency spectrum followed the theoretical functional relation and confirmed the applicability of inertial dissipation method for the estimation of turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates. PIV was used for a direct estimation of dissipation by evaluating spatially distributed velocity gradients. The direct dissipation estimate in conjunction with the estimated Eulerian frequency spectrum provided evaluation of a “universal” constant, α, commonly used for the estimation of an energy dissipation rate over the inertial subrange of the Eulerian spectrum. The results demonstrated a range of values, rather than a universal constant, of α with a lognormal probability distribution for vertical and horizontal velocity components. In order to encompass a 0.955 probability range under the lognormal distribution the universal constant, α, should be in the range 2.91 ≥ α _u ≥ 0.43 and 4.44 ≥ α _w ≥ 0.42 for horizontal and vertical velocity components, respectively.     

Turbulence and aeration in hydraulic jumps: free-surface fluctuation and integral turbulent scale measurements

In an open channel, a change from a supercritical to subcritical flow is a strong dissipative process called a hydraulic jump. Herein some new measurements of free-surface fluctuations of the impingement perimeter and integral turbulent time and length scales in the roller are presented with a focus on turbulence in hydraulic jumps with a marked roller. The observations highlighted the fluctuating nature of the impingement perimeter in terms of both longitudinal and transverse locations. The results showed further the close link between the production and detachment of large eddies in jump shear layer, and the longitudinal fluctuations of the jump toe. They highlighted the importance of the impingement perimeter as the origin of the developing shear layer and a source of vorticity. The air–water flow measurements emphasised the intense flow aeration. The turbulent velocity distributions presented a shape similar to a wall jet solution with a marked shear layer downstream of the impingement point. The integral turbulent length scale distributions exhibited a monotonic increase with increasing vertical elevation within 0.2 < L_z/d₁ < 0.8 in the shear layer, where L_z is the integral turbulent length scale and d₁ the inflow depth, while the integral turbulent time scales were about two orders of magnitude smaller than the period of impingement position longitudinal oscillations.     

Turbulence characteristics within sparse and dense canopies

Boundary layer interactions with canopies control various environmental processes. In the case of dense and homogeneous canopies, the so-called mixing layer analogy is most generally used. When the canopy becomes sparser, a transition occurs between the mixing layer and the boundary layer perturbed by interactions between element wakes. This transition has still to be fully understood and characterized. The experimental work presented here deals with the effect of the canopy density on the flow turbulence and involves an artificial canopy placed in a fully developed turbulent boundary layer. One and two-component velocity measurements are performed, both within and above the canopy. The influence of the spacing between canopy elements is studied. Longitudinal velocity statistical moments and Reynolds stresses are calculated and compared to literature data. For spacings greater than the canopy height, evidences of this transition are found in the evolution of the skewness factor, shear length scale and mixing length.     

Turbulence measurements in a small subtropical estuary under king tide conditions

In natural waterways and estuaries, the understanding of turbulent mixing is critical to the knowledge of sediment transport, stormwater runoff during flood events, and release of nutrient-rich wastewater into ecosystems. In the present study, some field measurements were conducted in a small subtropical estuary with micro-tidal range and semi-diurnal tides during king tide conditions: i.e., the tidal range was the largest for both 2009 and 2010. The turbulent velocity measurements were performed continuously at high-frequency (50Hz) for 60?h. Two acoustic Doppler velocimeters (ADVs) were sampled simultaneously in the middle estuarine zone, and a third ADV was deployed in the upper estuary for 12?h only. The results provided an unique characterisation of the turbulence in both middle and upper estuarine zones under the king tide conditions. The present observations showed some marked differences between king tide and neap tide conditions. During the king tide conditions, the tidal forcing was the dominant water exchange and circulation mechanism in the estuary. In contrast, the long-term oscillations linked with internal and external resonance played a major role in the turbulent mixing during neap tides. The data set showed further that the upper estuarine zone was drastically less affected by the spring tide range: the flow motion remained slow, but the turbulent velocity data were affected by the propagation of a transient front during the very early flood tide motion at the sampling site.