The dynamics of the head of a gravity current advancing over a horizontal surface

Abstract

The motion behind the head of a gravity current advancing over a no-slip horizontal surface is a complex three-dimensional flow. There is intense mixing between the current and its surroundings and the foremost part of the head is raised above the surface. Experimental results are obtained from (i) an apparatus in which the head is brought to rest by using an opposing flow and a moving floor and (ii) a modified lock exchange flow. The dimensionless velocity of advance, rate of mixing between the two fluids and the depth of the mixed layer left behind the head and above the following gravity current are determined for an extended range of the dimensionless gravity current depth. The mixing between the two fluids is the result of gravitational and shear instabilities at the gravity current head. A semi-empirical analysis is presented to describe the results. The influence of Reynolds number is discussed and comparison with a documented atmospheric flow is presented.