Down-slope propagation of a lock-release gravity current in a linearly stratified ambient fluid: shallow-water predictions and comparisons with previously published data

We consider the down-slope propagation of a compositional inertial Boussinesq gravity current released from a lock into a linearly stratified ambient fluid. We present a novel shallow-water formulation, which takes into account the stratification, slope, entrainment and drag. The solution of the resulting hyperbolic system of equations provides clear-cut predictions of realistic physical systems and insights into the influence of the governing parameters. Comparisons with previously published experimental data show fair agreement and the reasons for the discrepancies are elucidated. Directions for further work needed for the extension (in particular to particle-driven flows) and improvement of the model are outlined.