THEORY AND NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN TURBULENCE AND SUSPENDED SEDIMENT

Abstract

The coupled hydrodynamical-ecological model for Regional and Shelf Seas Coherens was modified through introducing sediment model in order to simulate suspended sediment transport and account for the interaction between turbulence and sediment. To discuss the effects of sediment on vertical eddy viscosity and diffusion coefficients, the damping function of sediment on turbulence was introduced into one equation k-epsilon turbulence closure model. Moreover, it is assumed that local equilibrium among turbulence production, dissipation and buoyancy destruction exist near the bottom. The local equilibrium assumption is introduced into the one equation k-e model and the specific formulation of local equilibrium for one equation k-e was derived. The tidal current was calculated for Youngkwang Bay near the west coast of Korea. Meanwhile, the suspended sediment was also simulated with the local equilibrium assumption and damping function of sediment on turbulence. It is found that the damping function of sediment reduces vertical eddy viscosity and diffusion coefficients. The local equilibrium assumption changes obviously bottom layer turbulence intensity and sediment concentration.