A Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in the Field: a study on shallow mixing layers at confluent and recirculating river flows under natural yet simplified conditions

• Applicant: Alexander Sukhodolov, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: from 2005 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 13410229

Turbulent flows in rivers govern complex mixing and transport processes crucial for many aspects of functioning and sustainable management of fluvial systems, hence representing the challenge of accurate quantitative assessment. Proposed research is aimed to expand the analysis of shallow shear flows toward both higher Reynolds numbers and realistic flow conditions, and to test recently developed models as the basis for predictive schemes facilitating computations of velocity fields, characteristics of turbulence, and mixing at river confluences and engineering constructions. The research is designed as a field-scale physical modeling experiment and measurement study of turbulence with one- and multi-probe techniques expanded with methods of particle tracking velocimetry. Field-scale physical modeling implies the construction of converging flows and groynes in a straight shallow reach of a lowland river with simplifications allowing to control the experimental conditions. Numerical simulations with some standard computational fluid dynamics codes will provide understanding on how to formulate the boundary conditions for these complex flows. The proposed research will gather together the expertise in field methods provided by the German team of IGB, Berlin and the advanced methods of laboratory investigation and numerical simulations developed by the Dutch team of TU Delft.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Netherlands
• Participating Persons: Professor Dr. Gunnar Nützmann; Professor Dr. Guus S. Stelling; Professor Dr. Wim S.J. Uijttewaal