Flow structure and mean residence times of lateral cavities in open channel flows: influence of bed roughness and shape

Abstract

Natural lateral cavities in open channels are important because their lower water velocities promote water quality and provide refugia for organisms. Little is known about the influence of natural cavity shapes and roughness on flow structure and exchange dynamics. We investigated the effects of cavity shape (semi-circular, backward conic, and forward conic) and bed roughness on the flow structure and mean residence time (MRT) of a lateral cavity in a flume. All cavity shapes have a flow field dominated by a one-gyre recirculation pattern, contrasting results of rectangular cavities at similar Reynolds number and aspect ratios. Transverse velocity energy spectra indicate the flow is dominated by large-scale quasi-2D coherent structures. Fundamental frequencies of mixing layer vortex shedding are fastest for forward conic cavities and slowest for backward conic cavities. Fluid enters cavities at shallower mixing layer depths, and fluid exits cavities at deeper mixing layer depths. MRTs are smaller for hydraulically smooth cases and forward conic cavities due to higher recirculation velocities. MRTs are larger for rough bed cases and backward conic cavities. Rough flow cases have a strong correlation to a predictive MRT relationship derived by Jackson et al. (Water Resour Res: 10.1002/wrcr.20272 , 2013) (R 2 = 0.77); however, this predictive model does not work well for smooth cavities. Two MRT relationships were derived for smooth lateral cavities and both have strong power-law correlations to normalized MRT. Understanding cavity shape and bed roughness effects will provide a guideline for designing lateral embayments in stream restoration projects.