Author(s): M. Felix

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: Single value variables; turbidity currents; depth-averaged variables

Abstract: A comparison is made between depth-averaged variables and characteristic variables (such as maximum velocity and height of maximum velocity) in natural scale turbidity currents, using a two-dimensional numerical model. These different single value variables are calculated for a range of simulated turbidity currents and illustrated in more detail for two flows. Single value variables describe the flow structure trend directly for slowly varying parts of flows, but for rapidly changing parts such variables describe flow only indirectly through momentum and total sediment transport. Different variables indicate the same spatial development of thickness, velocity and concentration, but only variables that describe total transport properties (sediment transport and momentum) are similar as their ratios do not vary much between flows. Single value variables cannot be used to describe flow behaviour with derived properties such as Froude numbers, or in equations such as Chézy-type equations.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2004.9641201

Year: 2004