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ESRU Energy Systems Research Unit

University of Strathclyde

 
MARINE CURRENT RESOURCE AND TECHNOLOGY METHODOLOGY

Resource: Velocity Distributions

    Velocity Profile    Model     Effects of Roughness    Flow Characteristics     Tool     References
Velocity Profile von Karman BL Calculation

Description of Model

In order to assess the flow, it is postulated that the section of interest, e.g. a channel, is entirely developed, fully turbulent flow. This allows us to consider it as a large boundary layer, stretching from the seafloor to the free surface, and as such calculate the velocity profile as we would a turbulent boundary layer. (6)(14)

Some nomenclature


In describing velocities and sizes of and in the boundary layer, the following notation is adopted:

  • Freestream velocity
U
  • Height in BL above wall
y
  • Local velocity in BL at height y above wall
u
  • BL thickness
  • Friction velocity
  • Momentum Thickness(is the height to which the boundary layer velocity would be zero if the momentum flux through the boundary layer was constant and equal to the freestream, resulting in a step change from 4.)

It should be noted that when referring to velocities within the boundary layer (and by extension, all velocities in the channel), velocities in this article should considered time averaged, as in an actual turbulent flow, velocities are extremely random and it is only the tendency for net transport of the gross flow that gives rise to any coherent motion. This is acknowledged, and all flow velocities are herein assumed time averaged (as in the specification of the variables below).

To describe these profiles physically, they may be split for convenience into three layers, characterised by their distance from the wall: an inner viscous sub-layer, an outer turbulent wake layer and an overlap layer adjoining them.

Within the inner layer, viscous shear stresses dominate, and the eddies and random flow associated with turbulent boundary layers is absent. In this manner, it largely resembles a laminar boundary layer, and although very tiny by comparison with the remainder of the profile, it shapes the entire boundary layer. It is observed that here the mean fluid velocity is dependant on fluid properties, wall shear and distance from wall.
  • Inner Variables:                                  by Prandtl
  • Outer Variables:                         by von Karman

An overlap layer exists between the inner and outer regions where both inner and outer relationships are valid.

In the outer layer, the fluid velocity increases with distance from the wall to freestream velocity, and arguments based on dimensional analysis and the derivation by Coles leads to the profile adopted in the present analysis, valid in both the overlap and outer layers (eqn 1):

Eqn 1
Eqn 2
      Eqn 3
Eqn 4, 5
Eqn 6,7
  • is skin friction coefficient, equal to the wall shear stress non-dimensionalised by the freestream dynamic head
  • is the non-dimensional velocity of the flow within the boundary layer, equal to
  • is the non-dimensional height, in terms of BL thickness, frictional velocity and kinematic viscosity
  • is termed the skin friction parameter, H the shape parameter, is Cole’s wake parameter and is Clauser’s equilibrium parameter which indicates a pressure gradient dependence in the shape of the profile (in our case it is assumed that pressure gradient is due to head difference along the channel as opposed to an external velocity distribution).

A full derivation and the physical meaning of these terms may be found in most fairly advanced physics of fluids textbooks, eg Frank White’s Viscous Fluid Flow (19). B and K are pure dimensionless constants, and generally accepted as being 0.4 and 5.5 respectively, although Gross (10) suggests alternative values for use in oceanic boundary layers. It is questionable whether the shallow water straits of interest may be described as being oceanic, however the constants are relatively similar (0.41 and 5.0 respectively). In all cases, they are based on experiments by Nikuradse, who would while away the hours by flowing water down drainpipes lined with sandpaper of varying gauge, arriving at his conclusion on the velocity profiles of various boundary layers.

Observations indicate that the relative sizes of the boundary layer regions is as follows:

  • Inner layer: 0.1 – 1%
  • Logarithmic blending region: 10 – 20%
  • Outer region: 80 – 90%

And since the Coles profile is valid within the overlap and outer regions, it is feasible that it can be applied to up to 99.9% of the profile. As such, it is the approach adopted in this project.

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Velocity Profile von Karman BL Calculation


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