Experiments on Transverse Waves Formation from Circular Obstacles in Open Channels

Transverse waves are produced due to the overlap of vortices resulted from the streamlines separation when fluids flow passes through a cluster of vertical circular cylinders. The direction of waves propagation is perpendicular to the fluid flow path. These waves are categorized in standing oscillatory waves type. In the present study, attention is focused on transverse waves formation in a rectangular laboratory flume. The flow path obstructions are wooden rods with height of m height and diameter of m. They are screwed on the plexiglass plate covered all bottom of laboratory flume in the staggered and in-line arrangements and with different intervals of rods. After establishment of the flow when the circular cylinders are submerged, no wave oscillations occur, when the water level is reduced slowly, types of surface waves are seen across the laboratory flume. The current study compares the formation of transverse waves in different arrangements of rods. The maximum wave amplitude observed during experiments was % of mean flow depth.