Shearing stresses and turbulence in a tidal current.

Brown, J. (1985) Shearing stresses and turbulence in a tidal current. PhD thesis, University of Liverpool.

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Abstract

Simultaneous measurements of the velocity profile and turbulence were made at 4 heights within 2 m of the sea bed in the Eastern Irish Sea. A photographic unit was also deployed to observe sediment motion. The design, construction and performance of the instruments are described and the results from 36 trials, for a variety of bedforms and water depths of 8 to 50 m, are discussed. The velocity profile was recorded by means of Aanderaa rotors and the velocity fluctuations with e.m. heads. Their measurements, according to flume calibrations, were accurate to ±l%. Angular corrections were necessary to compensate for the loss in response when the turbulence rig was poorly orientated with respect to the mean flow direction. The minimum in situ velocity was 20 cm s-l, at which speed inertial 'pumping' of the rotors by turbulent fluctuations was estimated to produce overreading by - 1 cm s-l. At speeds above 30 cm s-l this effect was negligible. The resolution of the e.m. heads was at least 5.0 mm s-l, as determined by the noise level, and d.c. drift less than 1.0 mm s-l over periods of up to 17 hours. Data were recorded on 9 track tape aboard ship for later analysis onshore. The measurements were made in a bottom boundary layer which could be decribed as accelerating, non-rotational, hydrodynamically rough, neutrally stratified and comprised a layer of constant Reynolds stress. The stress, as determined from the log-profiles, either uncorrected or corrected for acceleration, was observed to be significantly greater (- 26%) than that determined by eddy correlation techniques. This could not be attributed to uncertainties introduced by misalignment of the e .m. heads, or inadequate correction for cospectral losses. Doubt was cast on the validity of von Karmann's constant (KO) = 0.4, with a more appropriate value apparently being closer to 0.35. KO and u*2/-U7""WTexhibited no dependence on bedform or sediment type, except in one case, where high ratios corresponded to high zo's. Evidence of a tidal hysteresis of stress was observed at one station only. Apparent Zo minima at peak tidal velocities were, for the most part, attributed to the non-removal of accelerating effects when applying the log-law. Initially high values of zo' when present, were supposed to be due to streamlining of bedforms with ;ncrnasing velocity. Zo and C100 varied from 0.02 - 0.25 and (2 - 3) x 10-3 respectively for mud, unrippled sand and various sand combinations. For gravel and rippled sand values they were 0.10 - 0.20 and (3 - 8) x 10-3. A comparison of events comprising 90% of the stress with movement of bed material, observed by the photographic unit, failed to reveal a Correlation. During periods of sediment motion events in which u' > 0 were dominant. For events comprising 90% of the stress, those in which u' < 0 and u' > 0 occurred in groups of 5 - 20. In addition, a number of coherent events, occuring between 5 - 12 times per minute independently of velocity, were observed between 100.0 and 172.5 cm above the bed.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	20 Oct 2023 18:30
Last Modified:	20 Oct 2023 18:32
DOI:	10.17638/03175482
Copyright Statement:	Copyright © and Moral Rights for this thesis and any accompanying data (where applicable) are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge.
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3175482