Depth-Averaged Drag Coefficient for Modeling Flow through Suspended Canopies

Abstract

Aquatic suspended canopies are porous obstacles that extend down from the free-surface but have a gap between the canopy and bed. Examples of suspended canopies include those formed by aquaculture structures or floating vegetation. The major difference between suspended canopies and the more common submerged canopies, which are located on the bottom boundary, is the influence of the bottom boundary layer beneath the suspended canopy. Data from laboratory experiments are presented which explore aspects of the flow through and beneath suspended canopies constructed from rigid cylinders. The experiments, using both acoustic Doppler and two-dimensional (2D) particle tracking velocimetry, give details of the flow structure that may be divided vertically into a bottom boundary layer, a canopy shear layer, and an internal canopy layer. The experimental data show that the penetration of the shear layer into the canopy is limited by the distance between the canopy and bottom boundary layer. Peaks in velocity spectra indicate an interaction between the bottom boundary and canopy shear layer. An analytical model is also developed that can be used to calculate a drag coefficient that includes the effect of both canopy drag and bed friction. This drag coefficient is suitable for use in 2D (depth-averaged) hydrodynamic modeling. The model also allows the average velocity within and beneath the canopy to be calculated, and is used to investigate the effect of canopy density and thickness on both total drag and bottom friction.