Hydrodynamic and transport phenomena at the interface between flow and aquatic vegetation : from the forest to the blade scale
Thesis: Ph. D. in Environmental Fluid Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2014.
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | eng |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2014
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/88392 |
| _version_ | 1811083670625189888 |
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| author | Rominger, Jeffrey T. (Jeffrey Tsaros) |
| author2 | Heidi M. Nepf. |
| author_facet | Heidi M. Nepf. Rominger, Jeffrey T. (Jeffrey Tsaros) |
| author_sort | Rominger, Jeffrey T. (Jeffrey Tsaros) |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Thesis: Ph. D. in Environmental Fluid Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2014. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T12:37:12Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | mit-1721.1/88392 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T12:37:12Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/883922019-04-10T23:59:23Z Hydrodynamic and transport phenomena at the interface between flow and aquatic vegetation : from the forest to the blade scale Rominger, Jeffrey T. (Jeffrey Tsaros) Heidi M. Nepf. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Civil and Environmental Engineering. Thesis: Ph. D. in Environmental Fluid Mechanics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2014. 116 Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (pages 227-235). From the canopy scale to the blade scale, interactions between fluid motion and kelp produce a wide array of hydrodynamic and scalar transport phenomena. At the kilometer scale of the kelp forest, coastal currents transport nutrients, microorganisms and spores. But, kelp forests exert a drag force on currents, causing the flow to decelerate and divert as it encounters the canopy, affecting the fate of species transported by the current. We identify a dimensionless flow-blockage parameter, based on canopy width and density, that controls both the length of the flow deceleration region and the total flow in the canopy. We further find that shear layers at the canopy edges can interact across the canopy, providing additional exchange between the canopy and the surrounding water. At the sub-meter scale, kelp blades are the photosynthetic engines of kelp forests, but are also responsible for the majority of the fluid drag force on the plants and for acquiring nutrients directly from the surrounding water. These blades are highly flexible structures which move in response to the local fluid forcing. Recent studies documenting changes in blade flexural rigidity in response to changes in flow demonstrate a need for understanding the role blade flexural rigidity plays in setting both drag forces, and nutrient flux at the blade surface. We create a model physical system in which we investigate the role of blade rigidity in setting blade forces and rates of scalar exchange in a vortex street. Using a combination of experimental and theoretical investigations, we find that, broadly, forces are higher for more flexible blades, countering the adage that "going with the flow" is beneficial. Below a critical value of the dimensionless blade rigidity, inertial forces from the rapidly deforming blade become significant, increasing the likelihood of blade failure. Nutrient transport is also affected by blade rigidity. As blades deform, they alter the relative fluid motion at the blade surface, affecting nutrient fluxes. We develop a novel experimental method that simulates nutrient uptake to a blade using the transport of a tracer into polyethylene. Through these experiments and modeling, we demonstrate that increased blade flexibility leads to increased scalar transport. Ultimately, blade flexural rigidity affects both mass and momentum flux. by Jeffrey Tsaros Rominger. Ph. D. in Environmental Fluid Mechanics 2014-07-11T21:08:28Z 2014-07-11T21:08:28Z 2014 2014 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/88392 881812906 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 235 pages application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| spellingShingle | Civil and Environmental Engineering. Rominger, Jeffrey T. (Jeffrey Tsaros) Hydrodynamic and transport phenomena at the interface between flow and aquatic vegetation : from the forest to the blade scale |
| title | Hydrodynamic and transport phenomena at the interface between flow and aquatic vegetation : from the forest to the blade scale |
| title_full | Hydrodynamic and transport phenomena at the interface between flow and aquatic vegetation : from the forest to the blade scale |
| title_fullStr | Hydrodynamic and transport phenomena at the interface between flow and aquatic vegetation : from the forest to the blade scale |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrodynamic and transport phenomena at the interface between flow and aquatic vegetation : from the forest to the blade scale |
| title_short | Hydrodynamic and transport phenomena at the interface between flow and aquatic vegetation : from the forest to the blade scale |
| title_sort | hydrodynamic and transport phenomena at the interface between flow and aquatic vegetation from the forest to the blade scale |
| topic | Civil and Environmental Engineering. |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/88392 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT romingerjeffreytjeffreytsaros hydrodynamicandtransportphenomenaattheinterfacebetweenflowandaquaticvegetationfromtheforesttothebladescale |