When a buoyant inflow of higher density enters a reservoir, it sinks below the ambient water and forms an underflow. Downstream\r\nof the plunge point, the flow becomes progressively diluted due to the fluid entrainment. This study seeks to explore the ability of\r\n2D width-averaged unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulation approach for resolving density currents in an\r\ninclined diverging channel. 2D width-averaged unsteady RANS equations closed by a buoyancy-modified k - e turbulence model\r\nare integrated in time with a second-order fractional step approach coupled with a direct implicit method and discretized in\r\nspace on a staggered mesh using a second-order accurate finite volume approach incorporating a high-resolution semi-Lagrangian\r\ntechnique for the convective terms. A series of 2D width-averaged unsteady simulations is carried out for density currents.\r\nComparisons with the experimental measurements and the other numerical simulations show that the predictions of velocity\r\nand density field are with reasonable accuracy.
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