An experimental investigation of the near surface flow structure over wind-sheared water surface

TL;DRAbstract

The study of airside flow structure and its interaction with water at the air-water interface is important in order to understand the exchange of momentum, heat and mass fluxes between the two mediums. The present dissertation deals with the quantitative investigation of the near-surface flow above wind-sheared water surface through a series of laboratory experiments conducted over a wind speed range of 1.5 m s -1 to 4.4 m s-1 and at a fetch of 2.1 m. The two-dimensional velocity fields were measured using particle image velocimetry (PIV). To compare the airflow structure over the water surface with that over solid wall, the measurements were also made over the smooth and wavy walls at the same location, under identical conditions. The results show a reduction in the mean velocity magnitudes and the tangential stresses when gravity waves appear on the water surface. An enhanced vorticity layer was observed immediately above the water surface that extended to a height of approximately t

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