Characterising the force exerted on obstacles by non-Boussinesq gravity currents using implicit large-eddy simulations
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Brearley, Peter
Bartholomew, Paul
Laizet, Sylvain
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Three-dimensional non-Boussinesq gravity currents propagating past square and circular cylinders in a lock-exchange configuration have been simulated using implicit large-eddy simulations. The variation in the drag and lift forces in the spanwise direction increases substantially with widening density ratios, resulting in non-uniform loading and regions of high load concentration that are not predicted by the overall force calculation. The variation is greatest immediately before the maximum impact force when the obstacle interacts with the lobe-and-cleft structure of the non-Boussinesq currents, but continues throughout the interaction. Improved normalisation of the drag and lift coefficients is proposed based on the dynamic pressure with the average density of the two fluids, which was found to evolve consistently regardless of the density ratio.
Date Issued
2025-12-01
Date Acceptance
2025-05-11
Citation
International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, 2025, 116
ISSN
0142-727X
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow
Volume
116
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Subjects
DENSITY FLOWS
Engineering
Engineering, Mechanical
Gravity current
Mechanics
Non-Boussinesq
Physical Sciences
Science & Technology
Stratified flow
Technology
Thermodynamics
Turbidity current
TURBIDITY CURRENTS
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
109891
Date Publish Online
2025-06-04