Experimental investigation on plunge point depth of gravity current

Gravity current occurs due to entrainment of a fluid with bulk density (ρ±Δρ) in a fluid with specific density r. Impacting of dens flow mass with stagnant fluid, the gravity current penetrates into stagnant fluid and the plunge depth occurs. In this research, hydraulic parameters of density current and bed slope of the stagnant fluid, which affect on the plunge point, have been investigated. In all of the experiments, plunge depth was measured in the various discharges of density current and different of density 6, 9, 13 and 16 kg/m3 at three slopes 8, 12, and 16 percent. The results showed that the slope has a minor effect on the height of the plunge point. In a certain density, when the inflow of the density current is increased, the height of plunge point is also increases for different slopes. Based on experimental data and using dimensional analysis, an equation is presented for simulating the height of plunge point. Comparison between data obtained from the new equation with the measured data, showed that the new relationship can estimate actual data with good accuracy. The relative difference between the data obtained from the new equation and measured data was 0.91%. Comparisons are made between this new equation and the equations presented by other researchers using the whole data available in the literature. The results showed that the new equation had more agreement with actual data.