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Coherent structures and their interactions in smooth open channel flows

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Abstract

The study presents experimental results of coherent structures and their interactions in a smooth open channel flow based on measurement of instantaneous two-dimensional velocity vectors with particle image velocimetry. The sampled data were analyzed through techniques of ensemble average, vortex extraction, and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). Redistribution of turbulent kinetic energy is observed in the near-surface region. The spanwise vortices, which are closely related to hairpin vortices, exhibit a clear dependence on Reynolds number of the flow. Hairpin vortex packets and long streamwise vortices are identified as typical large-scale and super-scale coherent structures, respectively, and their interaction is revealed by examining the relationship between the population density of spanwise vortices and the coefficient functions of the first POD mode. Interactions between large-scale and super-scale structures have been recognized to support the hypothesis of closed-loop feedback cycle.

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Acknowledgments

The study is financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.51127006). The authors are grateful to Professor R.J. Adrian at Arizona State University for his valuable suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Qiang Zhong, Danxun Li, Qigang Chen & Xingkui Wang

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  1. Qiang Zhong
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  2. Danxun Li
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  3. Qigang Chen
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  4. Xingkui Wang
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Correspondence to Danxun Li.

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Zhong, Q., Li, D., Chen, Q. et al. Coherent structures and their interactions in smooth open channel flows. Environ Fluid Mech 15, 653–672 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-014-9390-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-014-9390-z

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