Turbulence and Vorticity in a Laboratory Channel Bend at Equilibrium Clear-Water Scour with and without Stream Barbs

Abstract

Laboratory flume experiments were conducted to study the flow field and sediment dynamics in a mobile-bed channel bend with and without the presence of stream barbs (upstream-angled submerged groynes). This paper presents spatial distributions of the vorticity field and the turbulent Reynolds shear stresses, kinetic energy, and integral scales. The objectives of the present paper were to (1) advance understanding of the role that vorticity and turbulence play in the erosion process in channel bends with and without barbs, and (2) optimize barb design for reducing erosion along the outer bank regions of channel bends through consideration of flow-field turbulence and vorticity. Results indicate that (1) increased