Turbulence and bed shear stress in shallow open channel flows over rough permeable beds

Knowledge of open-channel flow is crucial to river engineers. Design of flood protection systems and flood management rely on the ability of simulation models to accurately predict turbulence and bed shear stress in open channel flows. State-of-the art numerical models satisfy this requirement very well for deep flows (with flow depth much larger than roughness height) over impermeable beds. However, for shallow flows (with depth comparable to roughness height) over permeable beds both turbulence and bed shear stress modelling need to be revisited and modified to account for the effect of depth-bounded boundary layer and bed permeability. Many natural streams are shallow and flow over permeable gravel layers, so it is important to address this knowledge gap.

This project aims to improve knowledge and understanding of shallow open channel flows over permeable beds by producing an extensive experimental data set which will be used to establish turbulence closure relationships as well as the relationship between the bed shear stress and the mean velocity suitable for use for shallow open channel flows over permeable beds.

The successful candidate should have, or expect to have, an Honours Degree at 2.1 or above (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Physics.

Knowledge of: Fluid Mechanics, Turbulence, Porous media flows.