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Laboratory Analysis of Vortex Dynamics For Shallow Tidal Inlets

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Title: Laboratory Analysis of Vortex Dynamics For Shallow Tidal Inlets
Author: Whilden, Kerri Ann
Abstract: Estuaries depend on the transport of nutrients and sediments from the open sea to help maintain a prosperous environment. One of the major transport mechanisms is the propagation of large two dimensional vortical structures. At the mouth of an inlet, tidal flow forces the formation of two dimensional vortical structures whose lateral extent is much greater than the water depth. After the starting jet vortex dipole detaches from the inlet, secondary vortices shed due to separation from the inlet boundary and eventually reach the starting-jet dipole. An idealized inlet con figuration was utilized for laboratory experiments detailing the formation and propagation of the vortex structures with water depths of 3, 5, and 9 centimeters and flow Froude scaled to inlets along the Texas coast. Using surface particle image velocimetry, the entrainment of the secondary structures into the vortex system are shown as well as variations in characteristics such as trajectory, size, vorticity, and circulation for the vortices as they move downstream.
Subject: shallow flow
dipole formation
secondary vortices
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2009-08-7178
Date: 2009-08

Citation

Whilden, Kerri Ann (2009). Laboratory Analysis of Vortex Dynamics For Shallow Tidal Inlets. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from http : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -2009 -08 -7178.

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9cm_object.mov 254.6Mb QuickTime video View/Open
Full Exp Trial 2 - Patch.avi 245.0Mb Unknown View/Open
5cm_swirl.mov 256.6Mb QuickTime video View/Open
Full Exp Trial 1 - No Patch.avi 236.7Mb Unknown View/Open
Full Exp Trial 1 - Patch.avi 233.9Mb Unknown View/Open
3cm_object.mov 252.4Mb QuickTime video View/Open
3cm_swirl.mov 234.7Mb QuickTime video View/Open
5cm_object.mov 254.0Mb QuickTime video View/Open
9cm_swirl.mov 258.2Mb QuickTime video View/Open
Full Exp Trial 2 - No Patch.avi 287.9Mb Unknown View/Open
WHILDEN-THESIS.pdf 3.518Mb PDF View/Open

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