We present a combined theoretical-experimental investigation of particle--driven gravity currents advancing in circular cross--section channels in the high-Reynolds number Boussinesq regime; the ambient fluid is either homogeneous or linearly stratified. The predictions of the theoretical model are compared with experiments conducted in lock--release configuration; experiments were conducted with conditions of both full--depth and part-depth locks. Two different particles were used for the turbidity current, and the full range $0\le S \le 1$ of the stratification parameter was explored ($S=0$ corresponds to the homogeneous case, $S=1$ when the density of the ambient and of the current are equal at the bottom). In addition, a few saline gravity currents were tested for comparison. The results show a good agreement for the full--depth configuration, with the initial depth of the current in the lock equal to the depth of the ambient fluid. The agreement is less good for the partial--depth cases, and is improved by the introduction of a simple adjustment coefficient for the Froude number at the front of the current and accounting for dissipation. The general parameter dependencies and behaviour of the current, although influenced by many factors (e.g., mixing and internal waves), is well predicted by the relatively simple model.

On the propagation of particulate gravity currents in circular and semi--circular channels partially filled with homogeneous or stratified ambient fluid / Zemach, T.; Chiapponi, Luca; Petrolo, Diana; Ungarish, Marius; Longo, Sandro Giovanni; Di Federico, V.. - In: PHYSICS OF FLUIDS. - ISSN 1527-2435. - 29:106605(2017), pp. 1-17. [10.1063/1.4995388]

On the propagation of particulate gravity currents in circular and semi--circular channels partially filled with homogeneous or stratified ambient fluid

CHIAPPONI, Luca;PETROLO, DIANA;UNGARISH, MARIUS;LONGO, Sandro Giovanni
;
2017-01-01

Abstract

We present a combined theoretical-experimental investigation of particle--driven gravity currents advancing in circular cross--section channels in the high-Reynolds number Boussinesq regime; the ambient fluid is either homogeneous or linearly stratified. The predictions of the theoretical model are compared with experiments conducted in lock--release configuration; experiments were conducted with conditions of both full--depth and part-depth locks. Two different particles were used for the turbidity current, and the full range $0\le S \le 1$ of the stratification parameter was explored ($S=0$ corresponds to the homogeneous case, $S=1$ when the density of the ambient and of the current are equal at the bottom). In addition, a few saline gravity currents were tested for comparison. The results show a good agreement for the full--depth configuration, with the initial depth of the current in the lock equal to the depth of the ambient fluid. The agreement is less good for the partial--depth cases, and is improved by the introduction of a simple adjustment coefficient for the Froude number at the front of the current and accounting for dissipation. The general parameter dependencies and behaviour of the current, although influenced by many factors (e.g., mixing and internal waves), is well predicted by the relatively simple model.
2017
On the propagation of particulate gravity currents in circular and semi--circular channels partially filled with homogeneous or stratified ambient fluid / Zemach, T.; Chiapponi, Luca; Petrolo, Diana; Ungarish, Marius; Longo, Sandro Giovanni; Di Federico, V.. - In: PHYSICS OF FLUIDS. - ISSN 1527-2435. - 29:106605(2017), pp. 1-17. [10.1063/1.4995388]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11381/2834729
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