Author(s)

P.J. Montgomery & T.B. Moodie

Abstract

In this paper we shall present some recent results concerning a two-layer shallow-water formulation for gravity currents resulting from the initial re- lease of a block of dense fluid on an incline or sloping bottom. Model equa- tions are developed for the time dependent two-layer situation in two spatial dimensions under the assumptions of constant density layers which are in- compressible, immiscible, and inviscid. Effects such as rotation, surface tension, or turbulent entrainment between the fluids are also neglected. For low aspect ratio flows, the subsequent shallow-water formulation is stated and includes a forcing term with a frictional drag focused at the head of the gravity current which is introduced to balance the moment

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