Environmental Hydraulics – Stratified Flows V18

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Lecture Notes on Coastal and Estuarine Studies Series, Volume 18.

The present lecture notes cover a first course in the most common types of stratified flows encountered in Environmental Hydraulics. Most of the flows are buoyancy flows, i.e. currents in which gravity acts on small density differences.
Part I presents the basic concepts of stagnant, density - stratified water, and of flowing non-miscible stratified fluids. The similarity to the (presumed) well-known open channel flow, subject to a reduced gravity, is illustrated.
Part II treats the miscible density stratified flows. In outlining the governing equations, the strong coupling between the turbulence (the mixing) and the mean flow is emphasized. The presentation and discussions of the basic governing equations are followed by illustrative examples. Separate chapters are devoted to Dense Bottom Currents, Free Penetrative Convection, Wind-driven Stratified Flow, Horizontal Buoyancy Flow and Vertical jet/plumes.
Part III presents some examples of practical problems solved on the basis of knowledge given in the present lecture notes. It is the author's experience that the topics treated in chapter 8 and in the subsequent chapters are especially well-suited for self-tuition, followed by a study-circle.