Simulation of steady three-dimensional boundary-attached density currents

Density currents emanating from a slot and flowing downslope on an inclined bottom while spreading also laterally have been analyzed, using an integral model as well as three-dimensional simulations. Width integration of the depth-averaged equations, performed to formulate the integral model, creates the need for an additional equation to achieve closure. An equation already used by previous researchers was chosen, and the resulting integral model produced results in qualitative agreement with laboratory experiments. The quantitative agreement was, however, limited. The closure equation was evaluated by solving an inverse problem, which consisted of using the experimentally measured width for closure and back calculating parameters of the original closure equation. This method produced no strong support for the closure equation. Preliminary results of fully three-dimensional simulations using the parabolic equations governing fluid flow and mass transport produced detailed features of the currents which complement the experimental observations.