| Abstract: | A quasi-three-dimensional multilayer k– ? model has been developed to simulate turbulent recirculating flows behind a sudden expansion in shallow waters. The model accounts for the vertical variation in the flow quantities and eliminates the problem of closure for the effective stresses resulting from the depth integration of the non-linear convective accelerations found in the widely used depth- integrated models. The governing equations are split into three parts in the finite difference solution: advection, dispersion and propagation. The advection part is solved using the four-node minimax–characteristics method. The dispersion and propagation parts are treated by the central difference method, the former being solved explicitly and the latter implicitly using the Gauss–Seidel iteration method. The relative effect of bed-generated turbulence and transverse shear-generated turbulence on the recirculating flow has been studied in detail. In comparison with the results computed by the depth-integrated k–? model, the results computed by the present model are found to be closer to the reported data. |
