The effect of stable stratification on vortex stretching in open channel flow

Abstract

Abstract. We present the results of direct numerical simulation of stably stratified open channel flow. The main goal of the paper is to check the effect of thermal stratification on the dynamics of vortex interactions. By comparing the vortex stretching in neutral and stratified cases we show that imposing the stratification leads to an increase of the ratio between positive and negative vortex stretching magnitudes in the flow. That indicates the change in spectral transfer of turbulent energy.