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The propagation of gravity currents in a V-shaped triangular cross-section channel: experiments and theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2014

Marius Ungarish ,
Catherine A. Mériaux  and
Cathy B. Kurz-Besson
Marius Ungarish*
Affiliation:
Department of Computer Science, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
Catherine A. Mériaux
Affiliation:
Instituto Dom Luiz, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Cathy B. Kurz-Besson
Affiliation:
Instituto Dom Luiz, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
*
†Email address for correspondence: unga@cs.technion.ac.il
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Abstract

We investigate the motion of high-Reynolds-number gravity currents (GCs) in a horizontal channel of V-shaped cross-section combining lock-exchange experiments and a theoretical model. While all previously published experiments in V-shaped channels were performed with the special configuration of the full-depth lock, we present the first part-depth experiment results. A fixed volume of saline, that was initially of length $\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}x_0$ and height $h_0$ in a lock and embedded in water of height $H_0$ in a long tank, was released from rest and the propagation was recorded over a distance of typically $ 30 x_0$. In all of the tested cases the current displays a slumping stage of constant speed $u_N$ over a significant distance $x_S$, followed by a self-similar stage up to the distance $x_V$, where transition to the viscous regime occurs. The new data and insights of this study elucidate the influence of the height ratio $H = H_0/h_0$ and of the initial Reynolds number ${\mathit{Re}}_0 = (g^{\prime }h_0)^{{{1/2}}} h_0/ \nu $, on the motion of the triangular GC; $g^{\prime }$ and $\nu $ are the reduced gravity and kinematic viscosity coefficient, respectively. We demonstrate that the speed of propagation $u_N$ scaled with $(g^{\prime } h_0)^{{{1/2}}}$ increases with $H$, while $x_S$ decreases with $H$, and $x_V \sim [{\mathit{Re}}_0(h_0/x_0)]^{{4/9}}$. The initial propagation in the triangle is 50 % more rapid than in a standard flat-bottom channel under similar conditions. Comparisons with theoretical predictions show good qualitative agreements and fair quantitative agreement; the major discrepancy is an overpredicted $u_N$, similar to that observed in the standard flat bottom case.

JFM classification

Geophysical and Geological Flows: Geophysical and Geological Flows Geophysical and Geological Flows: Gravity currents
Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 754 , 10 September 2014 , pp. 232 - 249
Copyright
© 2014 Cambridge University Press 

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Ungarish supplementary movie

The propagation of the current, top view.

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