MEAN FLOW AND TURBULENCE AROUND TWO SERIES OF EXPERIMENTAL DIKES

Abstract

Scour around various structures obstructing flow in an open channel is a common problem; therefore a better understanding of how turbulent flow affects sediment transport is needed. Additionally, is it the mean flow or the turbulence properties that are more important in contributing to bed shear stress? To this end, an experimental study was conducted in a fixed-bed flume containing a series of dikes. Turbulence intensities and Reynold's stresses were calculated from 3-D velocity measurements gathered with a microADV. Results showed that the maximum shear stress was nearly 12-20 times that of the approach flow, while maximum turbulence intensities were about 3-5 times those of the incoming flow. Highest magnitudes of both were seen at the tip of the second dike in the three-dike series. The mean velocity appeared to have no relation to the formation of scour near the tips of the dikes but the turbulence intensities did.