Oscillatory boundary layer close to a rough wall

The flow field, generated by an oscillating pressure gradient close to a rough wall, is investigated by means of direct numerical simulations of Navier-Stokes and continuity equations. The wall roughness consists of semi-spheres regularly placed on a plane wall. A comparison of the obtained results with the experimental measurements of Keiller and Sleath [D.C. Keiller, J.F.A. Sleath, Velocity measurements close to a rough plate oscillating in its own plane, J. Fluid Mech. 73 (1976) 673-691] supports the numerical findings. As in Keiller and Sleath [D.C. Keiller, J.F.A. Sleath, Velocity measurements close to a rough plate oscillating in its own plane, J. Fluid Mech. 73 (1976) 673-691], a secondary peak in the streamwise velocity component is observed close to flow reversal and the peak is shown to be generated by the coherent vortex structures which are shed by the roughness elements. The flow is found to be dominated by the shear layers which form at the top of the roughness elements during the accelerating phases of the cycle and by the horse-shoe vortices which form close to the base of the semi-spheres. The dynamics of the shear layers and of the horse-shoe vortices is found to have a relevant influence on the pressure distribution and on the force exerted by the fluid on the roughness elements. The obtained results shed light to the mechanism by which the sediment is picked-up from the bottom by the action of sea waves. © 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved