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Defining the roughness sublayer and its turbulence statistics

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Abstract

The roughness sublayer in a turbulent open-channel flow over a very rough wall is investigated experimentally both within the canopy and above using particle image velocimetry by gaining complete optical access with new methodologies without disturbing the flow. This enabled reliable estimates of the double-averaged mean and turbulence profiles to be obtained by minimizing and quantifying the usual errors introduced by limited temporal and spatial sampling. It is shown, for example, that poor spatial sampling can lead to erroneous vertical profiles in the roughness sublayer. Then, in order to better define and determine the roughness sublayer height, a methodology based on the measured spatial dispersion is proposed which takes into account temporal sampling errors. The results reveal values well below the usual more ad hoc estimates for all statistics. Finally, the double-averaged mean and turbulence statistics in the roughness sublayer are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by Hydralab IV project funded by the European Commission (Grant Number 261520). Help in conceiving and setting up the optical experiments is gratefully acknowledged to S. Cazin and E. Cid.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, INPT, UPS; CNRS, Allée du Professeur C. Soula, 31400, Toulouse, France

    Emma Florens, Olivier Eiff & Frédéric Moulin

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  1. Emma Florens
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  2. Olivier Eiff
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  3. Frédéric Moulin
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Correspondence to Olivier Eiff.

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Florens, E., Eiff, O. & Moulin, F. Defining the roughness sublayer and its turbulence statistics. Exp Fluids 54, 1500 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-013-1500-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-013-1500-z

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