Laboratory Observation of Solitary Wave Propagating over a Submerged Rectangular Dike

A solitary wave interacting with a bottom mounted rectangular dike was studied experimentally using the quantitative particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique and two qualitative flow visualization techniques, including the laser induced fluorescence technique and the particle tracing technique. Vortices were generated due to flow separation at the corners of the dike, and shed downstream and upward by the induced current. The vortex shedding processes were identified using the two qualitative visualization techniques while detailed velocity field was measured quantitatively using PIV. Detailed vortical structures in the vicinity of the dike were investigated and compared with observations in other studies. A greater than expected number of vortices were generated at both sides of the dike and observed through detailed flow visualization. A similarity profile similar to a turbulent jet was found for the flow on the lee side of the dike.