Turbulence in a Gravel-Bed Stream with an Array of Large Gravel Obstacles

Abstract

This experimental and analytical study investigates the double-averaged (DA) turbulent flow characteristics within an array of large gravel obstacles found atop a porous gravel bed. Analysis of the experimental data reveals that the DA streamwise velocity preserves the logarithmic law above the form-induced sublayer, while a linear law and a third-degree polynomial function apply within the form-induced and interfacial sublayers, respectively. The form-induced shear stress is 70% of the DA Reynolds shear stress (RSS) occurring at the virtual bed level. The DA turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) components, streamwise and vertical, attain their peak values at the obstacle crest level, while they diminish sharply below the virtual bed level. The fluxes of the TKE streamwise and vertical components, however, change their signs slightly below the crest level, indicating a changeover of the dominance of the bursting events. For the TKE budget, the TKE production, diffusion, and pressure energy diffusion rate terms attain their peak values at the crest level, while the TKE dissipation rate has its peak value at the virtual bed level. Third-order moments of velocity fluctuations follow the linear relationship, and their signs change slightly below the crest level. The quadrant analysis suggests that the sweep events are the governing mechanism at the near-bed flow region, while the ejection events become predominant with an increase in vertical distance. The quadrant plots of the form-induced velocity components display a pseudo-elliptical scatter within the interfacial sublayer and a small circular cluster above the form-induced sublayer.