Dynamics of an oscillatory boundary layer over a sediment bed

We investigate the mechanisms by which a particle bed modifies the oscillatory boundary layer. We perform Euler-Lagrange simulations of an OBL over a particle bed at Reynolds numbers Reδ= 200, 400, and 800, density ratio ρₚ/ρf = 2.65, maximum Shields numbers ranging from 1.42 × 10⁻² to 7.40 × 10⁻², Galileo number Ga = 51.9, Stokes number ranging from 3.99 to 15.97, and Kuelegan-Carpenter number ranging from 1.7 × 10³ to 6.8 × 10³, and showed large modulation to the underlying boundary layer. We show two mechanisms of modification to the oscillatory boundary layer: (I) the permeability of the bed allows fluid flow to penetrate into the bed, introducing a slip velocity at the bed-fluid interface, an inflection point and the expansion of the boundary layer, and (II) for Reδ = 400, and 800, particle motion creates an evolving bedform. For Reδ = 200, particles are nearly motionless and the permeability of the bed drives the alteration of the velocity profile. The initial bed form drives velocity fluctuations not seen for flow over a smooth, impermeable wall. For Reynolds 400 and 800 particle momentum is associated with the peak velocity fluctuations, indicating that the particle feedback force contributes to velocity fluctuations. We show that the coefficient of friction, computed using the bed shear stress, is decreased by nearly half for Reynolds 200 and 400, and nearly an eighth for Reynolds 800.