Author(s): Joongcheol Paik
Linked Author(s): Joongcheol Paik
Keywords: Gravity current; Multiphase flow modeling; Hybrid RANS/LES; Two-layer fluids
Abstract: The performance of the multi-phase flow model for simulating lock-exchange gravity currents under stratified ambient conditions was evaluated through comparison with existing experimental observations. The present numerical predictions accurately reproduced key physical features of the gravity currents. Specifically, the model successfully captured the propagation speed, the structure of the current head, and the mixing dynamics in the tail region. These features were well-resolved, even on relatively coarse computational grids, demonstrating a marked advantage over commonly applied single-phase flow models. This computational efficiency underscores the practical engineering value of the present approach. The numerical results offer detailed insight into the three-dimensional flow structure of the gravity currents and their hydrodynamic interactions with surrounding boundaries.
Year: 2026