Author(s): A. M. Ferreira Da Silva; J. Bielenberg
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Dunes; Time-varying flow; Flow depth; Sudden change; Dune development; Duration of development
Abstract: The first results of a research program devoted to the study of dune development under time-varying flows are presented in this paper. The simplest case of a sudden change in flow depth is considered, the paper focusing on the duration of dune development following the sudden change. Dimensional and physical considerations are used to derive an equation for the duration of dune development. It is found that the resulting equation involves a function of four dimensionless combinations, which needs to be revealed experimentally. Finally, a special series of experimental runs carried out by the authors is used to shed some light on the nature of this function.
Year: 2011