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 0.35 m
height and diameter of 0.025 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, 4 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 43% of mean flow depth.