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Turbulence suppression by suspended sediment within a geophysical flow

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Abstract

Experiments are performed in a mixing box to evaluate the effect of suspended sediment on turbulence generated by an oscillating grid. Quartz-density sand of varying sizes and concentrations is used, and particle image velocimetry is employed to quantify only the fluid phase. Results show that (1) while a relatively large secondary flow field is present in the box, turbulence is a maximum near the grid and it decreases systematically toward the water surface; (2) relatively high concentrations of fine sediment can markedly alter this secondary flow field and significantly decrease both the time-mean and turbulent kinetic energy within the flow, yet these same sediment concentrations have little effect on the integral time and length scales derived for each velocity component; and (3) the overall turbulence suppression observed can be related to the transfer of energy from the fluid to the sediment and the maintenance of a suspended sediment load rather than commonly employed turbulence modulation criteria. These experimental data demonstrate unequivocally that the presence of a suspended sediment load can significantly reduce overall turbulent kinetic energy, and these results should be applicable to a range of sediment-laden geophysical flows.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Kevin Cullinan and Michael Fay for technical assistance with the experiments, Mike Leeder for helpful discussions on his suspension criterion, and the anonymous referees for suggesting ways to improve the clarity of the paper. This research was supported by NSF EAR 0549607.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14261-0055, USA

    Sean J. Bennett

  2. Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA

    Yinting Hou & Joseph F. Atkinson

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  1. Sean J. Bennett
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  2. Yinting Hou
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  3. Joseph F. Atkinson
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Correspondence to Sean J. Bennett.

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Bennett, S.J., Hou, Y. & Atkinson, J.F. Turbulence suppression by suspended sediment within a geophysical flow. Environ Fluid Mech 14, 771–794 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-013-9323-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-013-9323-2

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