Turbulence Characteristics in a Circular Open Channel by PIV Measurements

Abstract

The characteristics of mean velocity and turbulence have been analyzed in the circular open channel flow using PIV measurement data for a wide range of water depth. The measured data are fitted to a velocity distribution function over the whole depth of the open channel. Reynolds shear stress and mean velocity in wall unit are compared with the analytic models for fully-developed turbulent boundary layer. Both the mean velocity and Reynolds shear stress have different distributions from the two-dimensional boundary layer flow when the water depth increases over 50% since the influence of the side wall penetrates more deeply into the free surface. The cross-stream Reynolds normal stress also has considerably different distribution in view of its peak value and decreasing rate in the outer region whether the water depth is higher than 50% or not.