Simulation of Wind‐Induced Water Currents

Abstract

This paper presents a review of theoretical and conventional experimental approaches to studies of wind‐induced water currents and introduces a new method for simulating these motions in the laboratory. Mean velocity profiles obtained in conventional air‐water systems when plotted in terms of the coordinates of the “smooth inner” law of velocity distribution, relegate all of the experiments into the region of transitional roughness. The shortcomings of laboratory air‐water systems such as uncontrollable surface roughness and three‐dimensionality of flow are overcome with novel experimental approach in which the actual water body is represented by the air volume contained inside a moving box, and the surface of a stationary wall constitutes the actual air‐water interface. Mean velocity profiles obtained with this apparatus are used to verify an analytical solution based on the parabolic distribution of the eddy viscosity.