Library Subscription: Guest
Sixth International Symposium on Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomena
June, 22-24, 2009 , Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

DOI: 10.1615/TSFP6

LARGE EDDY SIMULATION OF MIXING IN COASTAL AREAS

pages 1167-1172
DOI: 10.1615/TSFP6.1860
Get accessGet access

ABSTRACT

The study of mixing in coastal area is a key issue in environmental fluid mechanics. In most applications it requires a three dimensional approach in order to take into account phenomena related to buoyancy effects and to complex geometry deriving from bathymetry, coast-line and anthropic structures. In the present paper a LES methodology is presented and discussed aimed at studying turbulent mixing in coastal areas under general forcing and geometric configuration. The strong grid anisotropy, between the horizontal length scale of kilometers and the vertical one of about 10−50 meters , is handled expressing the sub-grid stress by means of a directional eddy viscosity model. The density anomaly, due to the combination of salinity and thermal field, is treated as an active scalar in the momentum equation. Geometry is modeled using a combination of curvilinear grid and the Immersed Boundary Method (IBM). The model is applied to the investigation of two cases: the estuarine area of Tevere river; mixing in the Muggia bay under wind forcing. Results show the coastal dynamics to be strongly affected by buoyancy effects, Coriolis force and the conformation of the domain.

Begell Digital Portal Begell Digital Library eBooks Journals References & Proceedings Research Collections Prices and Subscription Policies Begell House Contact Us Language English 中文 Русский Português German French Spain