Prototype Measurements of Flows Induced by Navigation Tows

Siemsen, Terry S.; ,

Prototype Measurements of Flows Induced by Navigation Tows

by Terry S. Siemsen, US Army Engineer District, Navigation Planning Support Cent, Louisville, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Hydraulic Engineering

Abstract:

Present projections of growth of commerical navigation traffic indicate that annual tonnage per tow and/or number of tows will continue to increase through the foreseeable future. In order to better characterize the flow fields induced by such tows, prototype measurements of main channel flow fields generated by moving tows have been conducted by the Louisville District at several locations in 1987, 1988, and 1989. These studies have been designed to complement model studies conducted at the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station. The intent of these prototype efforts has been to gather data to describe flows ahead of, beneath, and behind tows as well as the flows generated between tows and shorelines. Studies have been conducted in river channels with nearly symmetrical geometry to river channels with more typical asymmetrical geometry. Measurements have been made of bow wave, return, propeller jet, wake, and displacement flows as well as tow induced drawdown and waves. Data collection from these studies are being used, along with model derived data, to develop improved predictive formulae to describe tow-related flow fields in typeical United States navigable rivers.

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