This paper presents a theoretical investigation of lock-released gravity currents propagating in the inertia-buoyancy regime through channels with diverse cross-sectional shapes, incorporating the effects of entrainment and drag. The study develops a generalized model based on shallow-water equations that accounts for the effects of entrainment and drag in channels with various cross-sectional shapes, extending previous models that primarily focused on rectangular channels. The finite-difference solution of the governing equations, using realistic initial and boundary conditions, effectively predicts the evolution of current height, velocity, and concentration over time. The results indicate that entrainment and drag significantly reduce current propagation speed while increasing its height and volume, particularly in channels with nonrectangular geometries. Furthermore, a high drag-to-entrainment ratio notably decreases current speed and distance of propagation, affecting the concentration profile near the current's nose, while keeping it stable at the tail.

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• Geophysical fluid dynamics
• Oceanography