Numerical prediction of turbidity currents on unsteady sediment-supply

A three-dimensional(3D) numerical model of unstable turbidity currents is developed based on the mechanism of sediment transport and turbulence theory.In this model,numerical simulation of turbidity currents without subsequent supply of muddy water was conducted using the same parameters as were used in the flume experiments.The evolution process of turbidity currents of completely losing supplies observed in the experiment was simulated by the model;validation of the numerical model and the algorithm was conducted.If momentarily interrupted process is regarded as a special case of the gradually interrupted,based on the preceding numerical simulation validity,it is feasible to simulate the motion law of turbidity currents under losing gradually supplies.By this method in this article,the characteristic of sediment-laden flow of losing gradually supplies was obtained,as well as its relationship between front velocity and sediment concentration.     

Numerical modeling of tidal currents, sediment transport and morphological evolution in Hangzhou Bay, China

A 2D depth-averaged numerical model is set up to simulate the macro-scale hydrodynamic characteristics, sediment transport patterns and morphological evolution in Hangzhou Bay, a large macro-tidal estuary on the eastern coast of China. By incorporating the shallow water equations, the suspended sediment transport equation and the mass-balance equation for sediment; short-term hydrodynamics, sediment transport and long-term morphological evolution for Hangzhou Bay are simulated and the underlying physical mechanisms are analyzed. The model reproduces the spatial distribution patterns of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in Hangzhou Bay, characterized by three high SSC zones and two low SSC zones. It also correctly simulates the residual flow, the residual sediment transport and the sediment accumulation patterns in Hangzhou Bay. The model results are in agreement with previous studies based on field measurements. The residual flow and the residual sediment transport are landwards directed in the northern part of the bay and seawards directed in the southern part. Sediment accumulation takes place in most areas of the bay. Harmonic analysis revealed that the tide is flood-dominant in the northern part of the bay and ebb-dominant in the southern part of the bay. The strength of the flood-dominance increases landwards along the northern Hangzhou Bay. In turn sediment transport in Hangzhou Bay is controlled by this tidal asymmetry pattern. In addition, the direction of tidal propagation in the East China Sea, the presence of the archipelago in the southeast and the funnel-shaped geometry of the bay, play important roles for the patterns of sediment transport and sediment accumulation respectively.     

Fully coupled mathematical modeling of turbidity currents over erodible bed

Turbidity currents may feature active sediment transport and rapid bed deformation, such as those responsible for the erosion of many submarine canyons. Yet previous mathematical models are built upon simplified governing equations and involve steady flow and weak sediment transport assumptions, which are not in complete accordance with rigorous conservation laws. It so far remains unknown if these could have considerable impacts on the evolution of turbidity currents. Here a fully coupled modeling study is presented to gain new insights into the evolution of turbidity currents. The recent analysis of the multiple time scales of subaerial sediment-laden flows over erodible bed [Cao Z, Li Y, Yue Z. Multiple time scales of alluvial rivers carrying suspended sediment and their implications for mathematical modeling. Adv Water Resour 2007;30(4):715–29] is extended to subaqueous turbidity currents to complement the fully coupled modeling. Results from numerical simulations show the ability of the present coupled model to reproduce self-accelerating turbidity currents. Comparison among the fully and partially coupled and decoupled models along with the analysis of the relative time scale of bed deformation explicitly demonstrate that fully coupled modeling is essential for refined resolution of those turbidity currents featuring active sediment transport and rapid bed deformation, and existing models based on simplified conservation laws need to be reformulated.     

Forward-modeling of co-evolution of turbidity currents,sediment transport,and cyclic steps in the Rio Muni Basin

Previous quantitative studies of field-scale cyclic steps are mostly based on analysis of field data. Such studies have shed light on the erosion/deposition patterns over these morphological features as well as the magnitudes of the turbidity current parameters back estimated using the measured geometry data. However, it remains unclear to what extent such back estimated hydraulic features and erosion/deposition patterns can be numerically reproduced by process-based numerical models. Here, a tw...     

Numerical modeling of lock-exchange gravity/turbidity currents by a high-order upwinding combined compact difference scheme

This study presents two-dimensional direct numerical simulations for sediment-laden current with higher density propagating forward through a lighter ambient water.The incompressible NavierStokes equations including the buoyancy force for the density difference between the light and heavy fluids are solved by a finite difference scheme based on a structured mesh.The concentration transport equations are used to explore such rich transport phenomena as gravity and turbidity currents.Within the framework of an Upwinding Combined Compact finite Difference(UCCD)scheme,rigorous determination of weighting coefficients underlies the modified equation analysis and the minimization of the numerical modified wavenumber.This sixth-order UCCD scheme is implemented in a four-point grid stencil to approximate advection and diffusion terms in the concentration transport equations and the first-order derivative terms in the Navier-Stokes equations,which can greatly enhance convective stability and increase dispersive accuracy at the same time.The initial discontinuous concentration field is smoothed by solving a newly proposed Heaviside function to prevent numerical instabilities and unreasonable concentration values.A two-step projection method is then applied to obtain the velocity field.The numerical algorithm shows a satisfying ability to capture the generation,development,and dissipation of the Kelvin-Helmholz instabilities and turbulent billows at the interface between the current and the ambient fluid.The simulation results also are compared with the data in published literatures and good agreements are found to prove that the present numerical model can well reproduce the propagation,particle deposition,and mixing processes of lock-exchange gravity and turbidity currents.     

太湖和大浦河口风成流、风涌水的数值模拟及其单站验证

介绍了太湖风成流和风涌水的数值摸拟工作。使用两种不同水平分辨率的数值模式,利用中日合作研究组在大浦河口实测的水位、湖流和风的资料对模拟结果进行了验证。结果指出,模式对风涌水及流向有较好的预报能力,流速的预报尚待进一步改进。     

南海潜在海啸传播过程的数值模拟：初始海啸衰减的影响

准确预估南海海啸风险是有效防灾减灾的前提.前人一般把弹性半无限空间背景下解算出来的海底位错直接等同于初始海啸分布,继而开展海啸传播过程研究.由于断层破裂并非瞬时完成,破裂过程会导致初始海啸波高小于海底位错量,即初始海啸衰减.本文基于高精度地形和高密度网格,求解非线性浅水方程,分别针对马尼拉断裂带的南段、中段和北段,构建南海海啸传播数值模型,试图定量考察初始海啸衰减作用对南海海啸的影响.模拟结果表明一定幅度的初始波高衰减将导致几乎相同幅度的海啸波高衰减,相应的偏差可以忽略.在保守的初始海啸衰减幅度（10%）下,模拟结果显示我国东南沿海、越南东部沿海和巴拉望岛为海啸危险区.另外,模型显示科里奥利力导致的波高变化幅度小于5 cm且其分布样式符合预期,这进一步佐证了数值模型的可靠性,也表明在实际南海海啸模拟中可以忽略科里奥利力进而提高计算效率.结合前人的沉积学认识和本文的数值模拟结果,本文认为南澳岛、西沙东岛和越南绥和周边曾同时遭受海啸侵袭,产生海啸的断裂带最有可能是马尼拉断裂带南段.后续有必要加强南澳岛、西沙东岛和越南东部的沉积学研究,识别更早的海啸事件,以期有力约束南海下次海啸事件的发生年份.

     

Numerical modeling of the Amazon River plume

Marine circulation above the northern Brazilian continental shelf is subject to energetic forcing factors of various origins: high water buoyancy fluxes induced by the Amazon River freshwater discharge, a strong coastal current associated with a mesoscale current (North Brazil Current (NBC)), a forcing by semidiurnal tide and by Northeast or Southeast trade winds according to the season. Using a three-dimensional (3-D) hydrodynamic numerical model (MOBEEHDYCS), and realistic bathymetry and coastline of the northern Brazilian shelf, this paper aims at studying the influence of some specific physical processes on the morphology of the Amazon plume. The very large volume discharge (180 000 m³/s on average) and the weak effect of Coriolis force are additional characteristics of the studied system, which induce a particular dynamics. The various forcing factors are successively introduced into the model in order to simulate and to determine their respective influences upon the plume extent and the hydrodynamics at the shelf scale. Simulation reveal that the coastal current is at the origin of the permanent northwestward Amazon plume extension while wind effect can either reinforce or moderate this situation. The tide intervenes also to modify the position of the salinity front: a horizontal migration of salinity front is observed under its action.     

Numerical modeling of local scour at a submerged weir with a downstream slope using a coupled moving-mesh and maskedelement approach

This paper presents a model for local scour at submerged weirs with downstream slopes that uses a coupled moving-mesh and masked-element approach.In the developed model,the fluid-sediment interface is tracked using a moving-mesh technique,and the effects of the structure on the hydrodynamics and bed morphology are resolved using a masked-element technique.Compared to traditional sediment scour models,based on the moving-mesh technique,the present model has the advantage of allowing for a simpler setup of the computational grids and a larger-amplitude deformation.Laboratory experiments on local scour at a submerged weir with a downstream slope were conducted,which provided bed profiles at different time instants.The results obtained by the present model are compared to the experimental data.The comparisons demonstrate the performance of the model in satisfactorily predicting local scour at a submerged weir with a downstream slope.The model was further modified and employed to carry out additional computations to investigate the influence of various parameters and sub-models.     

Numerical modeling of scour and deposition around permeable cylindrical structures

Flow past wall-mounted cylindrical structures is commonly encountered in natural rivers where piers of bridge crossings or vegetation stalks are common within channels.In the current study,the influence of cylindrical structures on flow/bathymetric alterations for three different permeabilities is explored via two-dimensional numerical modeling.In model construction processes,the structure permeability is varied with the surface void ratio along the perimeter of the cylinder,i.e.the density of e...     

Numerical modeling of the Patos Lagoon coastal plume,Brazil

The Southern Brazilian Shelf (SBS) is a freshwater-influenced region, but studies on the dynamics of coastal plumes are sparse and lack in space-time resolution. Studies on the dynamics of the Patos Lagoon plume are even more limited. The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of the principal physical forcing for the formation and behavior of the Patos Lagoon coastal plume. The study is carried out through 3D numerical modeling experiments and empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. Results showed that the amount of freshwater is the principal physical forcing controlling the plume formation. The Coriolis effect enhances the northward transport over the shelf, while the tidal effects contribute to intensify horizontal and vertical mixing, which are responsible for spreading the freshwater over the shelf. The wind effect, on the other hand, is the main mechanism controlling the behavior of the Patos Lagoon coastal plume over the inner SBS in synoptic time scales. Southeasterly and southwesterly winds contribute to the northeastward displacement of the plume, breaking the vertical stratification of the inner continental shelf. Northeasterly and northwesterly winds favor ebb conditions in the Patos Lagoon, contributing to the southwestward displacement of the plume enhancing the vertical stratification along and across-shore. The EOF analysis reveals two modes controlling the variability of the plume on the surface. The first mode (explaining 70% of the variability) is associated to the southwestward transportation of the plume due to the dominance of north quadrant winds, while the second mode (explaining 19% of the variability) is associated to the intermittent migration of the plume northeastward due to the passage of frontal systems over the area. Large scale plumes can be expected during winter and spring months, and are enhanced during El Niño events.     

Numerical modeling of wave equation by a truncated high-order finite-difference method

Finite-difference methods with high-order accuracy have been utilized to improve the precision of numerical solution for partial differential equations.However, the computation cost generally increases linearly with increased order of accuracy.Upon examination of the finite-difference formulas for the first-order and second-order derivatives, and the staggered finite-difference formulas for the first-order derivative, we examine the variation of finite-difference coefficients with accuracy order and note th...     

Numerical modeling of surface runoff and erosion due to moving rainstorms at the drainage basin scale

A physically-based distributed erosion model (MEFIDIS) was applied to evaluate the consequences of storm movement on runoff and erosion from the Alenquer basin in Portugal. Controlled soil flume laboratory experiments were also used to test the model. Nine synthetic circular storms were used, combining three storm diameters (0.5, 1 and 2 times the Alenquer basin’s axial length) with three speeds of storm movement (0.5, 1 and 2 m/s); storm intensities were synthesized in order to maintain a constant rainfall depth of 50 mm. The model was applied to storms moving downstream as well as upstream along the basin’s axis. In all tests, downstream-moving storms caused significantly higher peak runoff (56.5%) and net erosion (9.1%) than did upstream-moving storms. The consequences for peak runoff were amplified as the storm intensity increased. The hydrograph shapes were also different: for downstream-moving storms, runoff started later and the rising limb was steeper, whereas for upstream moving storms, runoff started early and the rising limb was less steep. Both laboratory and model simulations on the Alenquer basin showed that the direction of storm movement, especially in case of extreme rainfall events, significantly affected runoff and soil loss.     

Numerical modeling of local scour due to submerged wall jets using a strict vertex-based,terrain conformal,moving-mesh technique in OpenFOAM

This study presents the implementation and validation of a new sediment-scour model with a strict vertex-based,terrain conformal,moving-mesh technique within the framework of OpenFOAM.OpenFOAM lacks the ability to simulate large-amplitude motion needed for analysis of sediment-scour problems,and,thus,its application normally is restricted to small-amplitude cases to prevent computational divergence due to mesh deterioration.The proposed simple,moving-mesh technique in OpenFOAM is implemented to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional automatic mesh-motion techniques in handling large-amplitude moving geometries.The model is used to simulate a simple case of prescribed boundary motion,a previous experiment in the literature,and a new laboratory experiment for local scour due to submerged wall jets.The results are compared with both the experimental and other numerical results.The comparisons demonstrate that the proposed model has the novel advantage of allowing for more severe topographic variations,and can provide more reliable predictions for the key characteristics and evolution of the bed profiles in wall jet scour problems.Furthermore,to improve the practice of modeling wall jet scour,various turbulence modeling approaches and bedload equations also are evaluated and compared.     

Assessing morphological changes in a human-impacted alluvial system using hydro-sediment modeling and remote sensing

Construction of managed aquifer recharge structures(MARS)to store floodwater is a common strategy for storing depleted groundwater resources in arid and semi-arid regions,as part of integrated water resources management(IWRM).MARS divert surface water to groundwater,but this can affect downstream fluvial processes.The impact of MARS on fluvial processes was investigated in this study by combining remote sensing techniques with hydro-sediment modeling for the case of the Kaboutar-Ali-Chay aquifer,northwestern Iran.The impact of MARS on groundwater dynamics was assessed,sedimentation across the MARS was modeled using a 2D hydrodynamic model,and morphological changes were quantified in the human-impacted alluvial fan using Landsat time series data and statistical methods.Changes were detected by comparing data for the periods before(1985e1996)and after(1997 e2018)MARS construction.The results showed that the rate of groundwater depletion decreased from 2.14 m/yr before to 0.86 m/yr after MARS construction.Hydro-sediment modeling revealed that MARS ponds slowed water outflow,resulting in a severe decrease in sediment load which lead to a change from sediment deposition to sediment erosion in the alluvial fan.Morphometric analyses revealed decreasing alluvial fan area and indicated significant differences(p<0.01)between pre-and post-impact periods for different morphometric parameters analyzed.The rate of change in area of the Kaboutar-Ali-Chay alluvial fan changed from
0.228 to
0.115 km2/year between pre-and post-impact periods.     

南海北部神狐海域天然气水合物形成聚集的数值模拟研究

利用2D数值方法对南海北部陆坡神狐海域水合物形成聚集过程进行了模拟, 对气烟囱、泥底辟与水合物成藏间的关系进行研究. 模拟结果表明, 来自深部的甲烷热解气在向上运移过程中以垂向运动为主, 且局限在某一狭窄的范围内, 故在地震剖面上显示为气烟囱及顶部BSR.只有当其越过水合物稳定带底界, 才能形成水合物, 此时BSR等于水合物稳定带底界. 而一旦水合物形成, 该地层即成为封堵层, 从而阻止甲烷继续向上运移. 因此, 水合物仅仅在水合物稳定带底界上方很薄的一层, 饱和度却可以很高. 此后如果深部气源停止供气, 那么气烟囱会逐渐消失, 只留下水合物存在. 因此, 气烟囱的存在并不一定对应着水合物存在. 另外, 模拟结果还显示, 断裂流体活动(泥底辟)对水合物形成并不十分有利.来自深部的甲烷流量与流体流量之间的匹配很重要, 在甲烷流量一定的情况下, 流体流量越大, 越不容易形成水合物.     

Numerical modeling of a long-term in situ chemical osmosis experiment in the Pierre Shale,South Dakota

We have numerically modeled evolving fluid pressures and concentrations from a nine-year in situ osmosis experiment in the Pierre Shale, South Dakota. These data were obtained and recently interpreted by one of us (C.E.N.) as indicating a potentially significant role for chemical osmosis in media like the Pierre Shale. That analysis considered only the final pressure differentials among boreholes that were assumed to represent osmotic equilibrium. For this study, the system evolution was modeled using a recently developed transient model for membrane transport. The model simulates hydraulically and chemically driven fluid and solute transport. The results yield an estimate of the thickness of the water film between the clay platelets b of 40 Å, which corresponds to an osmotic efficiency σ of 0.21 for the ambient pore water salinity of 3.5 g/l TDS. These values largely confirm the results of the earlier equilibrium analysis. However, the new model analysis provides additional constraints suggesting that intrinsic permeability k = 1.4 × 10⁻¹⁹ m², specific storage S_s = 1.7 × 10⁻⁵ m⁻¹, and diffusion coefficient D* = 6 × 10⁻¹¹ m²/s. The k value is larger than certain independent estimates which range from 10⁻²¹ to 10⁻²⁰; it may indicate opening of microcracks during the experiments. The fact that the complex transient pressure and concentration behavior for the individual wells could be reproduced quite accurately, and the inferred parameter values appear to be realistic for the Pierre Shale, suggests that the new model is a useful tool for modeling transient coupled flows in groundwater systems.     

Numerical investigation of the factors influencing the vertical profiles of current,salinity, and SSC within a turbidity maximum zone

The flow-sediment interaction plays a considerable role on the vertical (internal) profiles of current,salinity and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) within a turbidity maximum zone (TMZ).Numerical modeling provides valuable insights into the complex estuarine physical processes.By combining numerical modeling with field observations,the influencing factors of fine sediment dynamics within the TMZ of Yangtze Estuary have been explored in this study.Firstly,during the neap tide,the measured data present that the current is too weak to break the density stratification,and the vertical flow structure is effectively altered.Secondly,a three-dimensional numerical model based on the Delft3D has been developed and a range of numerical sensitivity analyses were carried out to distinguish the dominant mechanisms and physical processes responsible for the phenomena observed from the measurement data.The numerical investigation highlights the following findings.(1) The vertical profile of currents within the TMZ is largely affected by saltwater intrusion,especially during lower currents when the baroclinic pressure gradient can significantly reshape the local vertical profiles of velocity.(2) The baroclinic effects are primarily determined by the stratification of salinity.(3) In addition to salinity,SSC also influences the local density stratification when its contribution to fluid density is comparable to that of salinity.(4) The settling velocity determines the overall sediment distribution and vertical profiles of the SSC in the water column.The SSC-dependent settling velocity (including the flocculation-induced acceleration and hindered settling deceleration phases) affects the longitudinal movement of the sediments.(5) The vertical profiles of current,salinity and SSC within the TMZ are highly associated with the turbulence determined by the model.The approach to modulate the vertical eddy viscosity in the model,based on the empirical dependency between Rig and Prt,may lead to a numerical instability in the stratified flow.In order to improve the stratification of SSC,additional turbulence damping effect is suggested to be implemented in the model.     

一阶弹性波方程数值模拟中的混合吸收边界条件

Liu和Sen（2010和2012）在地震波场数值模拟中提出一种混合吸收边界条件. 该方法具有计算量小、容易实现及吸收效果好等优点. 但现有的混合吸收边界条件是针对二阶位移-应力方程设计的,存在稳定性问题. 本文首先推导了两种速度-应力单程波方程：二阶Higdon单程波方程和一阶Higdon单程波方程. 进而提出基于一阶弹性波方程的混合吸收边界条件方法. 在内部区域和边界之间引入一个过渡区域,通过单程波与双程波方程平滑过渡来消除人工边界反射. 为了改善混合吸收边界条件的吸收效果和稳定性,我们采用了能同时吸收纵、横波反射的一阶单程波方程和与变量位置有关的加权系数. 为了验证混合吸收边界条件的有效性,将其与常规分裂完全匹配层（PML）方法进行了比较. 数值模拟结果表明,与PML边界条件相比,混合吸收边界条件在耗用更小计算时间和存储量的前提下,可以获得更好的吸收效果. 另外,本文提出的两种混合吸收边界条件中,混合一阶Higdon吸收边界条件具有更好的稳定性.