Near-Bottom Turbulence and Sediment Resuspension Induced by Nonlinear Internal Waves
Abstract
The transition to fully turbulence under fully nonlinear internal solitary waves (NLIWs) has been investigated. Very well resolved Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of the separated bottom boundary layer BBL under a NLIW of depression have been conducted. Exploratory and production runs involving typically 1.5 billion grid points have been executed on state-of-the-art DoD Facilities accessible via a Frontier contract. NLIWs propagating into quiescent waters and against oncoming barotropic currents with their own BBL have been studied. In the former set-up, a 3-D near-bed vortex wake forms only when volumetric forcing is included, whereas in the former a self-sustained near-bed turbulent wake occurs in the NLIWs lee through a complex spontaneous transition to turbulence. Integral measures and the energetics of the NLIW-driven BBL have been quantified. Mechanisms of particulate resuspension have been investigated through Lagrangian Coherent Structure (analysis) and the quantification of wave and wake-driven pressure signals at the bed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 27, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA617208
Entities
People
- Gustaaf B. Jacobs
- Peter J Diamessis
Organizations
- Cornell University