Author(s): Bouke Biemond; Robert Jan Labeur; Julie D. Pietrzak
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Lock exchange; Stratification effects; Internal waves
Abstract: In the lock exchange experiment, two fluids with different densities are initially separated by a vertical barrier. When the barrier is removed, density-driven flows will develop. This setting is used as an analog for e.g. sediment plumes, sea breezes and snow avalanches. The density difference between the lock and ambient is an important factor for the front speed of the developed flows (see e.g. Benjamin (1968)). In e.g. the coastal ocean, vertical density differences often exceed the horizontal density differences. Effects of stratification on front speeds are reported in literature (see e.g. Maxworthy et al. (2002)), but a complete description of the effects on stratification in the ambient and lock is lacking. We aim to increase the understanding of the effects of stratification in both the ambient and lock on the adjustment time of the lock exchange.
Year: 2025