Large-scale PIV application near the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier
The tidal flow through the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrer (ES-SSB) is strongly contracted, leading to large flow accelerations through the three main inlets that are most pronounced during maximum eb- and flood conditions. Downstream of the inlets a jet develops, and the associated transverse gradients in streamwise velocity feed potentially developing instabilities in the flow. These instabilities are considered to have an impact on the hydraulic loading on the bed, resulting in increased erosion rates in the scour holes at the landward side of the ES-SSB. This ongoing local erosion may, on the long term, affect the stability of the barrier. The Roompot scour hole is an example of such a hole around which the complex flow patterns are not yet fully understood. Using a combination of large scale particle image velocimetry (LSPIV) and ADCP measurements, the project is established to improve our understanding of the relation between a mixing layer and bed shear stress over the Roompot area.
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