Slope dependence of self-similar structure and entrainment in gravity currents
Jorge Salinas, Santiago L. Zúñiga, Mariano I. Cantero, Mrugesh Shringarpure, Juan J. Fedele, D. C. J. D. Hoyal, S. Balachandar
Abstract
Results from seven direct and large-eddy simulations of gravity currents on slopes ranging from 0.14 $^{\circ }$ to 2.86 $^{\circ }$ that span from the subcritical to the supercritical regime are studied. By considering a long domain, attention is focused on the near-self-similar state approached by these currents far downstream. In the self-similar limit, the various shape factors, local Richardson number, entrainment coefficient, velocity scale and basal drag coefficient reach a constant value, while the current height, volume and momentum fluxes continue to increase linearly. Their dependence on slope is presented.