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Department of Geography

Current Postgraduate Students

Dr Richard J. Hardy

Telephone: +44 (0) 191 33 41973
Fax: +44 (0)191 33 41801
Room number: S111

Contact Dr Richard J. Hardy (email at r.j.hardy@durham.ac.uk)

Biography

My primary research centres on the development of mathematical models for open channel hydraulics and sediment transport. This is achieved through both theoretical development and practical application of Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) codes. Recently this has concentrated on flow structure generation at high spatio-temporal scales. This has included both the development of an innovative technique to include complex topography within a numerical scheme and the application of time dependent turbulence schemes (Large Eddy Simulation) to open channel flows. Previous research has addressed larger scale applications of open channel hydraulic schemes including; (i) flow in individual geomorphological units (e.g. confluences, meander bends) and; (ii) modelling hydraulic and sediment transport schemes for studying reach scale floodplain dynamics.

My other research interests include the application of remote sensing data and GIS techniques to geomorphological problems. This includes work in the field of glaciology as well as studying geotechnical problems.

Current Projects

I am presently employed on a NERC Fellowship. The aim of this fellowship is the development of a high resolution integrated Computational Fluid Dynamic sediment transport (CFD-ST) model for the prediction of total sediment transport in a time dependent framework. The intended final product will combine the derivation of high resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) from digital photogrametry, the inclusion of this topographic data within a stable CFD framework (dynamic porosity algorithm) and the development of a high resolution total sediment load transport model driven through Large Eddy Simulations (LES). The proposed development will enable the construction of a high resolution spatio-temporal model of flow and sediment transport within a fluvial environment.

The fluid dynamics and bed morphology of large natural open channel confluences: 3D field quantification and numerical modelling. Channel confluences are ubiquitous features of all fluvial networks and represents sites of complex, three dimensional flow and sediment dynamics. However, current understanding of these sites is based largely on laboratory experiments and study of small scale field sites. No studies have documented the dynamics of large, natural channel junctions. Our ability to model and manage these key sites is thus severely limited. Here we propose to use acoustic Doppler current profiling and digital echo-sounding to quantify the field and sediment dynamics of one of the world's largest confluences between the Paraná and Paraguay, Argentina. This will quantify scale invariance in junction flow dynamics and provide validation data and output from a numerical model of flow. Study of bedform kinematics will also yield an understanding of the bed morphology at these sites.

Research Groups

  • Catchment, River and Hillslope Science (CRHS)

Research Projects

  • Flow structures and flow partitioning at river channel bifurcations

Supervises

Selected Publications

Books: sections

  • Lane, S.N., Hardy, R.J., Yu, D., Tayefi, V. & Reid, S.C. (2006). Climate change, sediment delivery and flood risk explored using two-dimensional inundation modelling. In River Flow 2006. Ferreria, R.M.L., Alves, E.C.T.L., Leal, J.G.A.B. & Cardos, A.H. London.: Taylor and Francis Group. 2147-2156.
  • Lane, S.N., Mould, D.C., Carbonneau, P.E., Hardy, R.J. & Bergeron, N. (2006). Fuzzy modelling of habitat suitability using 2D and 3D hydrodynamic models: biological challenges. In River Flow. Ferreria, R.M.L., Alves, E.C.T.L., Leal, J.G.A.B. & Cardos, A.H. London.: Taylor & Francis Group. 2043-2053.
  • Hardy, R.J. (2006). Modelling granular sediment transport over water worked gravels within a CFD framework. In River Flow 2006. Ferreria, R. M. L., Alves, E. C. T. L., Leal, J. G. A. B. & Cardos, A. H. London: Taylor & Francis Group. 913-918.
  • Parsons, D. Best, J.L., Lane, S.N., Hardy, R.J., Kostaschuck, D., Shugar, D. & Orfeo, O. (2006). Morhpology, flow and sediment transport over a natural 3D dune field: Rio Paraná, Argentina. In River Flow 2006. Ferreria, R.M.L., Alves, E.C.T.L., Leal, J.G.A.B. & Cardos, A.H. London.: Taylor & Francis Group. 977-1004.
  • Orfeo, O., Parsons, D.R., Best, J.L., Lane, S.N., Hardy, R.J., Kostaschuk, R.N., Szupiany, R.N. & Amsler, M.L. (2006). Morphology and flow structures in a large confluence-diffluence: Rio Paraná, Argentina. In River Flow 2006. Ferreria, R.M.L., Alves, E.C.T.L., Leal, J.G.A.B. & Cardos, A.H. London.: Taylor & Francis Group. 1277-1291.
  • Hardy, R.J., Parsons, D.R., Best, J.L., Lane, S.N., Kostaschuck, R. & Orfeo', O. (2006). Three-dimensional numerical modelling of flows over a natural dune field. In River Flow 2006. Ferreria, R.M.L., Alves, E.C.T.L., Leal, J.G.A.B & Cardos, A.H. London.: Taylor and Francis. 1077-1083.
  • Lane, S.N., Hardy, R.J., Ferguson, R.I. & Parsons, D.R. (2005). A framework for model verification and validation of CFD schemes in natural open channel flows. In Computational Fluid Dynamics Applications in Environmental Hydraulics. Bates, M. & Lane, S.N. John Wiley & Sons. 329-355.
  • Parsons, D.R., Ferguson, R.I., Lane, S.N. & Hardy, R.J. (2004). Flow structures in meander bends with recirculation zones: implications for bend movements. In River Flow 2004. Greco, M., Carravetta, A. & Della Morte, R. 49-59.
  • Best, J.L., Kostaschuk, R. & Hardy, R.J. (2004). The fluid dynamics of low-angle river dunes: results from integrated field monitoring, laboratory experimentation and numerical modelling. In Proceedings Marine Sand-wave and River Dune Dynamics II. Hulscher, S., Garlan, T. & Idier, D. The Netherlands.: University of Twente. 17-23.
  • Parsons, D.R., Best, J.L., Lane, S.N., Orfeo, O., Kostachuk, R., Hardy, R.J. & Franklin, M.C. (2004). The morphology and sediment dynamics of a large river confluence: the Rio Paraná and Rio Paraguay, NE Argentina. In River Flow 2004. Greco, M., Carravetta, A. & Della Morte, R. Balkema. 43-48.
  • Parsons, D.R., Best, J.L., Lane, S.N., Hardy, R.J., Orfeo, O. & Kostachuk, R. (2004). The morphology, 3D flow structure and sediment dynamics of a large river confluence. In River Flow 2004. Greco, M., Carravetta, A. & Della Morte, R. 43-48.
  • Hardy, R.J. & Lane, S.N. (2004). The numerical simulation of time dependent flow structures over water worked gravel. In River Flow 2004. Greco, M., Carravetta, A. & Della Morte, R. 235-244.
  • Lane, S.N., Hardy, R.J., Keylock, C.J., Ferguson, R.I. & Parsons, D.R. (2003). Coherent flow structures in shallow gravel-bed rivers: an experiemental and numerical study. In Shallow flows. Uijttewaal, W.S.L. 259-266.
  • Ferguson, R.I., Pardons, D.R., Lane, S.N. & Hardy, R.J. (2003). Flow structures in meander bends with recirculation. In International Association for Hydraulic Engineering and Research. Jirka, G. H. & Uijttewaal, W. S. J. Balkema.
  • Lane, S.N. & Hardy, R.J. (2002). Porous rivers: a new way of conceptualising river a floodplain flows? In Transport Phenomena in Porous Media (II). Ingham, D.B. & Pop, I. Pergamon. 425-449.

Journal papers: academic

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