Overturning in a cylindrical filling box

We examine the overturning in a cylindrical `filling box' driven by a single axisymmetric point source turbulent plume. We measure the initial penetration depth (\(h\)) of the buoyant flow that intrudes vertically up the side wall as a function of the box radius (\(R\)) and height \((H\)). Dimensional arguments reduce the problem to finding \(\eta=h/H\) as a function of the aspect ratio \(\Phi=R/H\). We model the flow in two parts, the radial outflow from the plume along the base of the box and the flow up the side wall. The outflow is modelled as a forced constant buoyancy flux radial gravity current while the side- wall flow is modelled as a turbulent line fountain. Different flow regimes were found for small and large aspect ratios. Firstly, for small aspect ratios, the plume outflow is still adjusting toward a pure gravity current on impact with the vertical wall. For this regime the dimensionless rise height is given by \(\eta \sim \Phi^{-1/3}\). Secondly, for larger aspect ratios, the outflow is fully developed before impact. In this case the rise height is given by \(\eta \sim Const\). Experimental results show good agreement with these scalings.