Multiple time scales of fluvial processes — theory and applications

Fluvial processes comprise water flow, sediment transport and bed evolution, which normally feature distinct time scales. The time scales of sediment transport and bed deformation relative to the flow essentially measure how fast sediment transport adapts to capacity region in line with local flow scenario and the bed deforms in comparison with the flow, which literally dictates if a capacity based and/or decoupled model is justified. This paper synthesizes the recently developed multiscale theory for sediment-laden flows over erodible bed, with bed load and suspended load transport, respectively. It is unravelled that bed load transport can adapt to capacity sufficiently rapidly even under highly unsteady flows and thus a capacity model is mostly applicable, whereas a non-capacity model is critical for suspended sediment because of the lower rate of adaptation to capacity. Physically coupled modelling is critical for fluvial processes characterized by rapid bed variation. Applications are outlined on very active bed load sediment transported by flash floods and landslide dam break floods.     

Assessment of the performance of different classes of turbulence models in a wide range of non-equilibrium flows

The performance of thirteen benchmark turbulence models within the RANS framework has been assessed in classical non-equilibrium flows. Linear and non-linear eddy-viscosity schemes, Reynolds stress transport models and single- and two-time-scale approaches have been considered in the investigation. Among the test cases studied are homogeneous shear and normally strained flows, adverse-pressure-gradient, favourable-pressure-gradient and oscillatory boundary layer flows, fully developed oscillatory and ramp up pipe flows and steady and pulsated backward-facing-step flows. The main advantages and drawbacks of the models in each of the test cases are discussed. These discussions provide a reasonably wide understanding of the expected behaviour of the models for future applications in non-equilibrium flows, and also result in suggestions on how the effectiveness of existing models can be further improved.     

Improvements on bed‐shear stress formulation for pier scour computation

This paper introduces an improved formula for the bed‐shear stress by applying the vorticity effect and its application in a 3D flow and sediment model to estimate scouring around bridge piers. Up to now, the sediment transport formulae used for computing pier scour were developed based on the general scouring in unobstructed flow. The capability for numerical models to predict local scour around bridge piers was severely restricted by the sediment transport formulae. The new formula introduced in this paper can take into account vortices that affect the local scour process by adding some terms into the classic bed‐shear stress equation. The 3D numerical model system used in this study consists of three modules: (a) an unsteady hydrodynamic module; (b) a sediment transport module; and (c) a Fation module. The hydrodynamic module is based on the 3D RANS equations. The sediment transport module is comprised of semi empirical models of suspended load and non‐equilibrium bed load. The bed‐deformation module is based on the mass balance for sediment. The model was used to simulate pier scour in tree different test cases: (1) a circular pier; (2) a square pier; and (3) a rectangular pier, by applying the ordinary sediment equation and the newly introduced sediment equation. Results of both numerical simulations were compared against laboratory measured data and also in case 1 with result of Olsen and Melaaen (J. Hydraul. Eng. 1993; 119 (9):1048–1054). Comparisons show that the new sediment formula could predict the scour more accurately than the ordinary one. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

河口混合与泥沙输运

根据振荡边界层理论和波流分解方法,导出了河口往复水流的流速垂向分布廓线,据此建立了河口垂向准二维水流、盐度、泥沙运动模型。对泥沙输运,完整地考虑了其对流、扩散、起动和沉降的动力学过程。模拟结果与实测资料进行了对比。应用该模型研究河口泥沙输运,分析了河口混合对泥沙输运的影响及最大浑浊带的时空变化规律。     

An efficient and flexible solver for the simulation of the morphodynamics of fast evolving flows on coarse sediment beaches

A well‐balanced total variation diminishing–McCormack scheme is used to simulate the fast evolving flow on a mobile coarse sediments bed. The scheme is chosen because of its shock capturing capabilities and its relative simplicity, which allow different sediment transport formulae to be slotted in easily. A typical example of the kind of flows treated here is bore‐driven wave run‐up. The analogy with a dam‐break on a mobile bed is used here to analyze the performance of the model. The model solves the nonlinear shallow water equations coupled with the Exner sediment balance equation for the mobile bed. Quasi‐analytical solutions to this problem for different expressions for instantaneous sediment discharge formulae are used to test the performance of the scheme. Together with the existing solution for the Grass formula, a further solution is obtained for a different formula. Numerical tests were also carried out for a further formula that is an industry standard. The agreement of the results with the solutions is very good and consistent results were obtained for all the formulae tested. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Generation mechanism of bed wave in a sand-bed channel

The previously proposed theory of bed load motion by fluid flow is developed. A plane system of equations for bed perturbations is obtained using a formula for the sediment transport rate which takes into account the effect of free-surface perturbations on sediment transport and is extended to the two-dimensional case. Dependences of the lengths and velocities of longitudinal and transverse waves with the most rapidly increasing amplitude on Froude number are determined. The effect of macroturbulent viscosity and surface waves on the generation of bed waves is determined.     

An unstructured finite‐volume method for coupled models of suspended sediment and bed load transport in shallow‐water flows

The aim of this work is to develop a well‐balanced finite‐volume method for the accurate numerical solution of the equations governing suspended sediment and bed load transport in two‐dimensional shallow‐water flows. The modelling system consists of three coupled model components: (i) the shallow‐water equations for the hydrodynamical model; (ii) a transport equation for the dispersion of suspended sediments; and (iii) an Exner equation for the morphodynamics. These coupled models form a hyperbolic system of conservation laws with source terms. The proposed finite‐volume method consists of a predictor stage for the discretization of gradient terms and a corrector stage for the treatment of source terms. The gradient fluxes are discretized using a modified Roe's scheme using the sign of the Jacobian matrix in the coupled system. A well‐balanced discretization is used for the treatment of source terms. In this paper, we also employ an adaptive procedure in the finite‐volume method by monitoring the concentration of suspended sediments in the computational domain during its transport process. The method uses unstructured meshes and incorporates upwinded numerical fluxes and slope limiters to provide sharp resolution of steep sediment concentrations and bed load gradients that may form in the approximate solutions. Details are given on the implementation of the method, and numerical results are presented for two idealized test cases, which demonstrate the accuracy and robustness of the method and its applicability in predicting dam‐break flows over erodible sediment beds. The method is also applied to a sediment transport problem in the Nador lagoon.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于两相紊流模型的非平衡输沙研究

基于雷诺平均的水沙两相流方程, 建立了一个非平衡全沙输移二维数学模型. 模型考虑相间相对运动以及多颗粒之间的相互影响, 通过相间作用力进行两相耦合.和传统的单相流模型以及低浓度两相流模型相比, 该模型摆脱了依赖经验公式给定床面边界条件的局限性. 针对明渠净冲刷问题, 在合理给定水相和泥沙相边界条件的前提下计算了泥沙浓度分布的沿程变化, 并利用物理模型实验的结果和理论解验证了数学模型的正确性,同时也分析了明渠净冲刷问题中紊动扩散和重力沉降现象的特征.      

A two‐dimensional finite volume morphodynamic model on unstructured triangular grids

We discuss the application of a finite volume method to morphodynamic models on unstructured triangular meshes. The model is based on coupling the shallow water equations for the hydrodynamics with a sediment transport equation for the morphodynamics. The finite volume method is formulated for the quasi‐steady approach and the coupled approach. In the first approach, the steady hydrodynamic state is calculated first and the corresponding water velocity is used in the sediment transport equation to be solved subsequently. The second approach solves the coupled hydrodynamics and sediment transport system within the same time step. The gradient fluxes are discretized using a modified Roe's scheme incorporating the sign of the Jacobian matrix in the morphodynamic system. A well‐balanced discretization is used for the treatment of source terms. We also describe an adaptive procedure in the finite volume method by monitoring the bed–load in the computational domain during its transport process. The method uses unstructured meshes, incorporates upwinded numerical fluxes and slope limiters to provide sharp resolution of steep bed gradients that may form in the approximate solution. Numerical results are shown for a test problem in the evolution of an initially hump‐shaped bed in a squared channel. For the considered morphodynamical regimes, the obtained results point out that the coupled approach performs better than the quasi‐steady approach only when the bed–load rapidly interacts with the hydrodynamics. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A depth-of-field limited particle image velocimetry technique applied to oscillatory boundary layer flow over a porous bed

Boundary layer flows are ubiquitous in the environment, but their study is often complicated by their thinness, geometric irregularity and boundary porosity. In this paper, we present an approach to making laboratory-based particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements in these complex flow environments. Clear polycarbonate spheres were used to model a porous and rough bed. The strong curvature of the spheres results in a diffuse volume illuminated region instead of the more traditional finite and thin light sheet illuminated region, resulting in the imaging of both in-focus and significantly out-of-focus particles. Results of a traditional cross-correlation-based PIV-type analysis of these images demonstrate that the mean and turbulent features of an oscillatory boundary layer driven by a free-surface wave over an irregular-shaped porous bed can be robustly measured. Measurements of the mean flow, turbulent intensities, viscous and turbulent stresses are presented and discussed. Velocity spectra have been calculated showing an inertial subrange confirming that the PIV analysis is sufficiently robust to extract turbulence. The presented technique is particularly well suited for the study of highly dynamic free-surface flows that prevent the delivery of the light sheet from above the bed, such as swash flows.     

Evaluating rheological models for human blood using steady state,transient, and oscillatory shear predictions

The rheological characterization of human blood, through modeling and analysis of steady state, transient, and oscillatory shear flows, has made tremendous progress recently. Due to the aggregation of red blood cells at low shear rates, many recent models for blood rheology include a structural, thixotropic component with one of the most recent attempts unifying this approach with a viscoelastic formulation. We will show how these models, along with proposed modifications to another recent structural, kinetic thixotropy model, can improve modeling predictions. Results are compared to the Maxwell-like Bautista-Manero-Puig model, the Oldroyd-8 inspired viscoelastic Anand-Kwack-Masud model, a viscoelastic-thixotropic model from Blackwell and Ewoldt, and the Herschel-Bulkley model. We explore the weaknesses of the legacy blood models and then demonstrate the efficacy of the newly improved models for modeling human blood steady state and transient shear rheology to predict oscillatory shear flow.     

Effect of sediment particle size on bed wavelength in closed conduits

The problem of the stability of the sand bed surface in a rectangular closed conduit with respect to spatially one-dimensional perturbations is formulated. The bed-form stability problem is solved using an analytical formula of bed load which takes into account the effect of bottom pressure on bed-load transport. An analytical dependence of the bed wavelength on hydrodynamic flow parameters and sediment particle diameter is obtained and compared with experimental data.     

Large eddy simulation of boundary layer flow under cnoidal waves

Water waves in coastal areas are generally nonlinear, exhibiting asymmetric velocity profiles with different amplitudes of crest and trough. The behaviors of the boundary layer under asymmetric waves are of great significance for sediment transport in natural circumstances. While previous studies have mainly focused on linear or symmetric waves, asymmetric wave-induced flows remain unclear, particularly in the flow regime with high Reynolds numbers.Taking cnoidal wave as a typical example of asymmetric waves, we propose to use an infinite immersed plate oscillating cnoidally in its own plane in quiescent water to simulate asymmetric wave boundary layer. A large eddy simulation approach with Smagorinsky subgrid model is adopted to investigate the flow characteristics of the boundary layer. It is verified that the model well reproduces experimental and theoretical results. Then a series of numerical experiments are carried out to study the boundary layer beneath cnoidal waves from laminar to fully developed turbulent regimes at high Reynolds numbers, larger than ever studied before.Results of velocity profile, wall shear stress, friction coefficient, phase lead between velocity and wall shear stress, and the boundary layer thickness are obtained. The dependencies of these boundary layer properties on the asymmetric degree and Reynolds number are discussed in detail.     

A fully coupled numerical technique for 2D bed morphology calculations

A fully coupled two‐dimensional subcritical and/or supercritical, viscous, free‐surface flow numerical model is developed to calculate bed variations in alluvial channels. Vertically averaged free‐surface flow equations in conjunction with sediment transport equation are numerically solved using an explicit finite‐volume scheme using transformed grid in order to handle complex geometry fluvial problems. Convergence is accelerated with use of a multi‐grid technique. Firstly the capabilities of the proposed method are demonstrated by analyzing subcritical and supercritical hydrodynamic flows. Thereafter, an analysis of one‐ and two‐dimensional flows is performed referring to aggradation and scouring. For all reported test cases the computed results compare reasonably well with measurements as well as with other numerical solutions. The method is stable, reliable and accurate handling a variety of sediment transport equations with rapid changes of sediment transport at the boundaries. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Godunov method for the computation of erosional shallow water transients

A Godunov method is proposed for the computation of open‐channel flows in conditions of rapid bed erosion and intense sediment transport. Generalized shallow water equations govern the evolution of three distinct interfaces: the water free‐surface, the boundary between pure water and a sediment transport layer, and the morphodynamic bottom profile. Based on the HLL scheme of Harten, Lax and Van Leer (1983), a finite volume numerical solver is constructed, then extended to second‐order accuracy using Strang splitting and MUSCL extrapolation. Lateralisation of the momentum flux is adopted to handle the non‐conservative product associated with bottom slope. Computational results for erosional dam‐break waves are compared with experimental measurements and semi‐analytical Riemann solutions. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling of vertical turbulent exchange in a stratified near-wall flow

A modified model of turbulence is proposed to describe the processes of vertical transport in inhomogeneous turbulent flows. This model includes algebraic relations for the Reynolds stresses and turbulent-exchange coefficients. Using this model, the growth of the depth of a mixed layer under the action of the wind load in neutral and stable stratified near-wall flows has been predicted. The calculation results for a stable stratified flow that were obtained using the modified and standard two-parametric models of turbulence are compared with experimental data. Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 39, No. 6, pp. 57–64, November–December, 1998.     

A modified lattice Boltzmann model for shallow water flows over complex topography

A modified lattice Boltzmann model is proposed to describe shallow water flows over complex topography. In the proposed model, the quadratic depth term is excluded from the equilibrium distribution functions (EDFs), and the hydrostatic pressure term is combined with the bed slope term to be treated as a part of the sourcing term in the lattice Boltzmann equation (LBE). Therefore, it is unnecessary to match the coefficients of the quadratic depth term in the EDFs with those of the bed slope term in the sourcing terms in the LBE. This would bring more flexibility to the treatment of the sourcing terms in the LBE. In order to recover the shallow water equations (SWEs), the basic constraints are redefined, and under these constraints, the coefficients of the EDFs are derived afterwards. Several benchmark problems are used to validate the proposed model, including stationary case, steady flows over a two‐dimensional bump and tidal wave flows over irregular bed elevation. The computed results are in excellent agreement with the results of the other numerical methods and the analytical solutions, indicating that the proposed model is capable of simulating shallow water flows over complex bathymetry. It also proves that the proposed model has potential to produce competitive solutions to shallow water flows over complex bed topography. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

振荡潜流带沉积层?水界面污染物输运的研究

潜流带中污染物质交换与输运特性是影响水资源环境的重要问题之一. 本文对底部为高渗透沉积层的三维槽道振荡流高Schmidt数传质问题进行了大涡模拟研究. 采用动力学亚格子模型来封闭滤波后的三维不可压缩Navier-Stokes方程以及污染物输运方程, 同时采用修正的Darcy-Brinkman-Forcheimer模型来描述沉淀有锌离子污染溶质的可渗透沉积层. 通过对沉积层内外流场和浓度场的统计特性以及瞬态结构的分析, 探究了上覆水体中振荡流驱动作用对污染物输运的动力学影响以及扩散率随振荡周期和振荡角的变化规律. 研究结果表明, 浓度通量中的湍流浓度分量在垂向物质交换中起主导作用, 流向、展向速度, 湍流强度和污染物浓度的波动跟随振荡驱动力呈现准周期变化, 同时发现沉积层?水交界面处的湍流浓度通量与法向湍流强度两者之间的变化具有明确的相关性. 并且在较大振荡角和低频振荡的情况下, 沉积层?水交界面处的有效扩散率增大, 这主要是来自于沉积层?水交界面处流体的猝发行为有效促进了湍流混合和物质交换, 进而增强了污染物的垂向输运.