Statistical characteristics of a flow downstream from a single cylinder

In this study, the influence of a single vegetation element within the flow and turbulence characteristics were experimentally explored. All the experiments were performed in a channel 8m long, 40cm wide and 40cm deep. The single vegetation element was modelled through a metal cylinder. It was fully submerged. Throughout the velocity measurements, a laser Doppler anemometer was used. Time-average streamwise velocity, streamwise velocity standard deviation, streamwise velocity skewness and streamwise velocity kurtosis were examined. The presence of the single vegetation element produces a flow retardation and a significant degree of additional turbulent kinetic energy. The skewness and kurtosis factors show a deviation from the distributions without vegetation, which is evidence of the complexity of the flow.