Evolution of coherent turbulent structures and relation with bed-forms formation in a straight flume

Abstract

The present paper describes some results of experimental work carried out in a rectilinear flume to investigate the interactions between flow turbulence and sediment motion. The analysis is conducted through the comparison between the periodicity of turbulent structures evolving along the channel and the wavelength of bed forms (alternate bars) forming on the bed. The occurrence of turbulent events (inward interaction, ejection, sweep and burst) has been verified through the conditioned quadrant analysis. The quantitative information about the spatial and temporal scale of the events has been obtained through the space-time correlations of the conditioned data. The analysis essentially highlights that the periodicity of evolution of the turbulent structures compares well with the wavelength of bars found on the bed.