Large-eddy simulation of oscillatory flow, sediment transport and morphodynamics over ripples

Abstract

The present work is focused on the large-eddy simulation (LES) of oscillatory flow and sediment transport dynamics over a rippled bed. A morphological module was also developed and used to perform simulations of the bed form evolution under hydrodynamic/sediment forcing. Results are presented for oscillatory flow over fixed ripples of different steepness values. The suspended sediment rise is highly correlated to the level reached by the vortices of the flow. Suspended sediment concentration increases with increasing mobility parameter values. As long as the evolution of the bed form is concerned, results of ripples adapting to flow conditions are presented.