Gravity current analyzer for lock-release experiments

Abstract

Analyzing gravity currents and stratified flows thoroughly is a time-consuming task, particularly in engineering and educational contexts. Despite the availability of numerous tools for studying stratified flows, there is currently no software dedicated to analyzing gravity currents, integrating flow characterization with theoretical and empirical analyses. This study introduces an open-source tool (Dyenamic), specifically designed for conducting in-depth analyses of gravity currents using a single recorded video. The software incorporates a particle image velocimetry routine to examine the velocity field of the gravity current and the sediment particle transport, offering essential physical indices and categorization based on existing literature. Data from modeling results and laboratory experiments are used to perform calibration, validation, and sensitivity analyzes. The findings demonstrate strong alignment with the existing gravity current literature, highlighting the effectiveness of the software in characterizing gravity currents. Dyenamic emerges as a robust, user-friendly, and versatile tool suitable for educational and research endeavors.

KEYWORDS:

• Gravity current
• laboratory flumes
• sediment resuspension
• PIV
• density current

Acknowledgements

This study was financed in part by the Coordenacão de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoas de Nivel Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001. RCB, NSS e ADS thank CAPES for the scholarships. TBB acknowledges the productivity stipend from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development – CNPq, grant number 312211/2020-1, call no. 09/2020.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [grant number 312211/2020-1, call 09/2020]; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior [grant number Finance Code 001].