Vortex trapping of sand grains over ripples under oscillatory flow

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Abstract

Sand ripples significantly impact morphodynamics in the nearshore by generating coherent vortices, which can transport suspended sediment to greater heights in the water column than above flat beds. Coherent vortices can trap sediment grains if the settling velocity of the grain is smaller than the maximum vertical fluid velocity in the vortex (Nielsen 1992). Particle image and tracking velocimetry were used to measure small-scale fluid-sediment interactions over sand ripples in a small oscillatory flow tunnel. Here we present some of the first measurements of vortex-trapped sediment grains under oscillatory flows. Results showed that the vortex-trapped sand grain traversed an orbit offcenter of the vortex near the ripple slope. Some grains then spiralled outward and settled to the bed; others were transported by the flow as the vortex was shed from the crest. Vortex trapping can delay settling and increase settling times, potentially causing inaccurate sediment transport predictions by large-scale numerical models, which do not typically account for this non-linear small-scale process.

Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title Vortex trapping of sand grains over ripples under oscillatory flow
Year Published 2023
Language English
Publisher Institute of Physics of Rennes and Geosciences Rennes Laboratory (University of Rennes 1) and the French Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Office (Shom)
Contributing office(s) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description 7 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Conference publication
Larger Work Title Proceedings of MARID VII
First page 117
Last page 123
Conference Title Marine and River Dunes VII
Conference Location Rennes, France
Conference Date April 3-5, 2023
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