Experiments on flow over obstacle arrays: a database for turbulent flow and wave transformation modeling

This data descriptor presents a detailed dataset of open-channel flow interacting with arrays of obstacles, originating from a laboratory experimental campaign involving Gaussian- and log-normal-shaped obstacles arranged sequentially in a flume, as well as a solitary dune profile. Six different array configurations were tested. Both steady and unsteady flow conditions were implemented resulting in a wide range of experiments. Data on free surface flow level, flume bed level, and head pressure data were systematically extracted using a methodology specifically designed for this purpose. The dataset is supplemented with schematic representations of the data and panoramas images of the experiments, including characteristics of turbulence and wave transformation phenomena. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first database in the literature to comprehensively examine the interaction of flow with various obstacle arrays under both steady and unsteady flow conditions. Combined with the detailed description of the employed methodology, this data descriptor is expected to promote significant usage of the dataset, benefiting the open-channel flow modeling community.