Author(s): Gaetano Porcile; Dominique Mouaze; Pierre Weill; Anne-Claire Bennis; Aurelien Gangloff
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Keywords: Oscillatory flow; Bottom waviness; Boundary layer; PIV measurements
Abstract: Here we present an experimental campaign delving into the complex interplay between sand dune morphology and tidal current dynamics. Employing particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements, we conducted diverse series of laboratory flume experiments to scrutinize the hydrodynamic influence of dunes on steady currents, both aligned and opposed to the dune asymmetry. Our experiments sought to replicate the hydrodynamics occurring over the tidal dune field of the Goulet de Brest, located in Brittany, France. The Goulet hosts well-formed and highly dynamic dunes shaped by intense tidal currents. Notably, these currents exhibit a distinctive asymmetry, with ebb flows prevailing towards the southwest in contrast to the opposite flood flows. The resulting tidal asymmetry is vividly mirrored in the dune profiles, showcasing an accentuated asymmetry in the southeast part of the field, where dunes grow taller in shallower waters.
Year: 2024