Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

1978

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Tennant, Jeffrey S.

Abstract

The objectives of this investigation were - 1) design and build a turbulence current meter capable of measuring velocity fluctuations in a geophysical scale flow and 2) the measurement of such flow including subsequent analysis of near bottom turbulence. An unique device capable of sensing velocity fluctuations in the region 25cm above the bottom was constructed based on concepts original to the study of turbulence. A review of previous equipment and research is included for a comparison. The instrument's usefulness was illustrated in the open channel flow of a tidal estuary by its ability to detect the horizontal velocity field. The data obtained for the turbulence shows large variation in velocity of the lateral component on the order of 50-75% of the "mean" current speed. Digital filtering of the data reveals distinct structures of high energy, intermittent in their nature and analogous to "bursting". The energy spectrum of the longitudinal component follows the predicted slope of -1 for over two decades (.01 to 1.3 + Hz).

Extent

159 p.

Comments

College of Engineering and Computer Science|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1978.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|College of Engineering and Computer Science

Identifier

FADT13943

Format

pdf

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