Physical modelling and scale effects of air-water flows on stepped spillways

During the last three decades, the introduction of new construction materials (e.g. RCC (Roller Compacted Concrete), strengthened gabions) has increased the interest for stepped channels and spillways. However stepped chute hydraulics is not simple, because of different flow regimes and importantly because of very-strong interactions between entrained air and turbu- lence. In this study, new air-water flow measurements were conducted in two large-size stepped chute facilities with two step heights in each facility to study experimental distortion caused by scale effects and the soundness of result extrapolation to pro- totypes. Experimental data included distributions of air concentration, air-water flow velocity, bubble frequency, bubble chord length and air-water flow turbulence intensity. For a Froude similitude, the results implied that scale effects were observed in both facilities, although the geometric scaling ratio was only Lr=2 in each case. The selection of the criterion for scale effects is a critical issue. For example, major differences (i.e. scale effects) were observed in terms of bubble chord sizes and turbulence levels al- though little scale effects were seen in terms of void fraction and velocity distributions. Overall the findings emphasize that physical modelling of stepped chutes based upon a Froude similitude is more sensitive to scale effects than classical smooth-invert chute studies, and this is consistent with basic dimensional analysis developed herein.

Air Entrainment and Pressure Fields over Stepped Spillway in Skimming Flow Regime

This paper deals with some aspects of the air entrainment process along the chute of spillway and study of pressure fluctuations. The experimental study has been carried out using stepped spillway model located in the campus of Government College of Engineering, Amravati (India). It is observed that air concentration is increasing with discharge as well as with number of step. Air concentration is increasing along the length of spillway. It is also observed that the bottom mean air concentration increases with step height in the upstream reach of stepped spillway, which is prone to cavitation. The pressure profiles exhibit a wavy pattern down the stepped chute and pressure on each step increases with ratio of critical depth to step height (yc/h).

Numerical investigation of air-entrainment in skimming flow over stepped spillways

As a widely used flood energy dissipator, the stepped spillway can significantly dissipate the kinetic or hydraulic energy due to the air-entrainment in skimming flow over the steps. The free-surface aeration involves the sharp deformation of the free surface and the complex turbulent shear flows. In this study, the volume of fluid （VOF）, mixture, and Eulerian methods are utilized to simulate the air-entrainment by coupling with the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes/large eddy simulation （RANS/LES） turbulence models. The free surface deformation, air volume fraction, pressure, and velocity are compared for the three different numerical methods. Only the Eulerian＋RANS method fails to capture the free-surface aeration. The air volume fraction predicted by the VOF＋LES method best matches the experimental measurement, while the mixture＋LES method predicts the inception point of the air entrainment more accurately.

Numerical Simulation of Flow over Stepped Spillways with Varying Step-Angle

In the present study,the flow over the stepped spillway was numerically investigated by using Flow3D model.The effect of step angle on different properties of Nappe flow regime such as the water surface profile,location of free-surface aeration inception,Froude number at the spillway’s toe,and pressure,flow velocity,air concentration and cavitation index were evaluated.The realizable k–εwas applied as the turbulence model,and Volume of Fluid(VOF)model was used to determine the free surface flow profiles of the spillway.The model was verified using experimental data.In order to investigate the different characteristics of Nappe flow regime,17 numerical runs was designed,in which,four step angles,four flow discharge were considered to investigate the flow characteristics over the stepped spillway.The results indicated that the numerical model is well suited with the experimental data over the stepped spillway(RMSE=0.147 and ARE=6.9%).In addition,with increasing the step angles,the aeration inception point is generally moved downstream.By increasing the step angles from zero to 10 degrees,the Froude number does not change significantly,however,at the angle of 15 degrees,the Froude number decreases by about 42 percent.

Computational investigation of hydraulic performance variation with geometry in gabion stepped spillways

Over recent years, there has been a clear increase in the frequency of reported flooding events around the world. Gabion structures offer one means of flood mitigation in dam spillways. These types of structures provide an additional challenge to the computational modeller in that flow through the porous gabions must be simulated. We have used a computational model to investigate the flow over gabion stepped spillways. The model was first validated against published experimental results. Then, gabion stepped spillways with four different step geometries were tested under the same conditions in order to facilitate inter-comparisons and to choose the best option in terms of energy dissipation. The results show that normal gabion steps can dissipate more energy than overlap, inclined, and pooled steps. An intensive set of tests with varying slope, stone size, and porosity were undertaken. The location of the inception point and the water depth at this point obtained from this study were compared with those from existing formulae. Two new empirical equations have been derived, on the basis of a regression analysis, to provide improved results for gabion stepped spillways.

溢洪道台阶式溢流设计下水力消能特征研究

基于出水洞水库溢流台阶的异形交错设计,探讨溢流面流速、压强等水力特征,并分析了溢洪道消能特征。研究表明,异形交错台阶设计下的沿程流速变化不受泄流量影响,峰、谷值流速断面一致;溢流段设计异形交错台阶,有助于在溢流段聚集较高动水势能。同时,异形交错台阶设计下双侧具有负压特征,紊动能分布水平亦较高,以异形台阶数量为4级时最高;无异形交错台阶设计下压强水平较高,变幅较低,紊动能、消能率均低于异形交错台阶方案。结合溢流面泄流消能现状考虑,设计异形交错台阶较合理,结果可为研究台阶式溢洪道溢流面体型设计提供参考。

阶梯式溢流坝台阶面力学性能数值模拟研究及优化

借助ANSYS有限元分析软件,考虑阶梯式溢流坝台阶面在坝体附近水流作用下的应力状况,对台阶式溢流坝进行优化改进尝试,并对原模型和优化方案进行了综合对比.计算结果表明,台阶隅角内容易出现应力奇异点,进而危害结构安全.而采用在台阶隅角内设计圆角的优化改进措施,可以在基本不影响消能性能的前提下改善这一状况.

变坡比衔接段结构阶梯溢洪道水力特性研究

该文依托庙堂水库溢洪道工程,采用数值模拟的方法对比了传统曲线型衔接段阶梯溢洪道与变坡比衔接段结构阶梯溢洪道的水力特性,结果表明:变坡比衔接段结构能够有效降低阶梯消能结构的流速,最大降低40%,校核工况下使得消力池进口流速降低47%,能有效缩短消力池的长度,节省工程造价;变坡比衔接段结构溢洪道负压幅值降低38%,降低了阶梯结构发生空化破坏的几率,同时阶梯溢洪道的消能率提高10%,更有利于溢洪道的消能。变坡比衔接段结构阶梯溢洪道的适用性更强,更有利于溢洪道的安全运行,可为类似工程提供参考。

基于SPH的台阶式溢洪道最优消能率参数研究

为研究台阶式溢洪道的消能规律,明确台阶式溢洪道的最优消能率参数,利用DualSPHysics对台阶式溢洪道水流特征进行模拟,并通过与典型案例的对比分析验证了SPH方法对台阶式溢洪道水流模拟的适用性与准确性,模拟结果表明SPH方法可以较好地模拟台阶式溢洪道上的水流特征。通过建立不同单宽流量、台阶段坡度和台阶数目的共计288种工况对台阶式溢洪道消能规律及其影响因素进行了研究。结果表明:在其他条件一定的情况下,台阶式溢洪道的消能率与单宽流量呈负相关关系;台阶数目对台阶式溢洪道消能率的影响并不显著,但是存在一个台阶数目能使台阶式溢洪道的消能率达到最大值,该最优消能率对应的台阶数目在78~81阶范围内,此结论对指导实际工程应用有一定的参考价值。

Numerical simulation of air-water two-phase flow over stepped spillways

Stepped spillways for significant energy dissipation along the chute have gained interest and popularity among researchers and dam engineers. Due to the com- plexity of air-water two-phase flow over stepped spillways, the finite volume computational fluid dynamics module of the FLUENT software was used to simulate the main characteristics of the flow. Adopting the RNG k-ε turbulence model, the mixture flow model for air-water two-phase flow was used to simulate the flow field over stepped spillway with the PISO arithmetic technique. The numerical result successfully reproduced the complex flow over a stepped spillway of an experiment case, including the interaction between entrained air bubbles and cavity recirculation in the skimming flow regime, velocity distribution and the pressure profiles on the step surface as well. The result is helpful for under-standing the detailed information about energy dissipation over stepped spillways.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL TURBULENCE NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF A STEPPED SPILLWAY OVERFLOW

In this paper, the k ε turbulence model is used to simulate the three dimensional turbulence flow over the stepped spillway at the Yubeishan reservoir. In order to solve the curved free water surface and to handle the complex boundary conditions, the fractional Volume Of Fluid (VOF) model that is applicable to the solution of the stratified two phase flow is introduced along with k ε turbulence model and the unstructured grid is used for the discretization of the irregular simulation domain. By these methods, the turbulence flow field of the stepped spillway is simulated successfully. The location of the free surface along the spillway, the magnitude and distribution of the velocity, the pressure on the step surface, the turbulence kinetic energy and turbulence dissipation rate are obtained by simulation. The changes and distributions of these characteristics along the width of the spillway are also obtained. The energy dissipation ratio of the stepped spillway is calculated according to the upstream and downstream water depth and velocities

金沟河红山水库溢洪道下游消能工优化试验研究

水利枢纽泄洪建筑物下游的高速水流冲击下游河床致使下游河床严重冲刷及岸坡淘刷,处理不当可能危及大坝安全。针对金沟河红山水库溢洪道下游的消能问题,通过水工模型试验对溢洪道进行不同工况下的消能效果分析,提出了采用“台阶+消力池+消力坎辅助消能工”的综合消能方案,较好地解决了红山水库溢洪道泄洪消能问题,为水库工程溢洪道下游消能防冲设计提供参考。

Hydraulic characteristics of stepped spillway dropshafts

Nowadays, "Sponge Cities" are being built to provide a valid solution to the glaring drainage problems in the urban areas of China. The hydraulics of a dropshaft, especially discharge capacity, energy dissipation and cavitation damage control, evidently affect its safety and the city's underground tunnel system, due to the high dropshaft and large discharge. The hydraulic characteristics of stepped spillway dropshafts are experimentally investigated for the variable step rotation angles and end sill heights. Flow regimes inside the dropshafts are classified under the different approach flow discharges. The results illustrate that there is high energy dissipation in the present dropshafts with the stepped spillway and the cavitation damage could be effectively avoided thanks to the effect of the air entrainment to the flow.

台阶式溢洪道数值模拟计算精度评价方法

随着CFD领域和计算机技术的发展,许多学者开始采用数值模拟的方法对台阶式溢洪道的水力特性进行细致研究,但学界并没有评价其计算精度的一致方法。采用从致密至粗糙3种网格尺寸,利用Flow 3D^(®)软件对台阶式溢洪道上的水汽二相流进行数值模拟,提供评价其计算精度的一般方法。首先通过计算网格收敛指数法(GCI)以优选网格尺寸,在保证计算精度的同时缩短计算时长;再以物模试验测量结果作为参照,评价在推荐网格尺寸下数值模拟计算结果的精确性。结果表明:使用相同的网格加密因子可以大幅简化GCI的计算过程,推荐采用全局GCI小于5%的网格尺寸;Flow 3D^(®)软件对台阶式溢洪道上关键水力学参数的计算精度较高,且对纯水流的计算精度优于对水汽二相流的计算精度。

Numerical simulation and analysis of water flow over stepped spillways

Numerical simulation of water flow over the stepped spillway is conducted using Mixture multiphase flow model. Different turbulence models are chosen to enclose the controlling equations. The turbulence models investigated are realizable k-ε model, SST k-ω model, v2-f model and LES model. The computational results by the four turbulence models are compared with experimental ones in the following aspects: mean velocity, the spanwise vorticity and the growth of the turbulent boundary layer thickness in the streamwise direction. It is found from the comparison that the realizable k-ε model, in which the rotation tensor is included, shows good performance for simulation of flows involving rotation, boundary layer and recirculation. The realizable k-ε model is the most efficient in simulating flow over stepped spillways. Further, the characteristics of water flow on the stepped spillway are studied in terms of the mean velocity profile normal to the pseudo-bottom and the pressure field on the steps based on the simulation results using realizable k-ε model.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL TURBULENCE NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF A STEPPED SPILLWAY OVERFLOW

In this paper, the k-ε two-equation turbulence model was used to simulatethe three-dimensional turbulent flow of the stepped spillway at the Yubeishan reservoir. In order tosolve the curved free water surface and to handle the complex boundary conditions, the fractionalVolume Of Fluid (VOF) model that is applicable to the solution of the stratified two-phase flow wasintorduced to the k-ε turbulence model and the unstructured grid was used for the discretization ofthe irregular simulation domain. By these methods, the turbulent flow field of the stepped spillwaywas simulated successfully. The location of the free surface along the spillway, the magnitude anddistribution of the velocity, the pressure distribution on the step surface, the turbulence kineticenergy and turbulence dissipation rate were obtained by simulation. The changes and distributions ofthese characteristics along the width of the spillway were also obtained. The energy dissipationratio of the stepped spillway was calculated according to the upstream and downstream water depthand velocities.

INFLUENCING FACTORS FOR THE ENERGY DISSIPATION RATIO OF STEPPED SPILLWAYS

In order to search for the measure to increase the energy dissipation ratio of stepped spillways, some main influencing factors for the energy dissipation ratio of stepped spillways, such as unit discharge, dam slope, height of step and so on, were studied. The results show that the energy dissipation ratio decreases with the increase in the unit discharge and increases as the slope becomes gentle. The effects of step height on the energy dissipation ratio are closely related to unit discharge. If the unit discharge is smaller, the change of energy dissipation ratio with step height becomes greater. While, if the unit discharge is greater, the influence of step height on energy dissipation ratio is very little. According to the distributions of the turbulence kinetic energy and turbulence dissipation rate obtained by numerical simulation, the basic reason of the decrease of energy dissipation ratio with the increase in the unit discharge was discussed and some specific measures to increase the energy dissipation ratio were suggested.

Inception point of air entrainment over stepped spillways

The location of the inception point of the air entrainment directly affects the energy dissipation ratio, the cavitation damage control, and the training wall height designs for a stepped spillway and a stilling basin. In this paper, the boundary layer theory of plates is used to predict the location of the inception point of the air entrainment over the stepped spillways by assuming the steps on the spillways as a kind of roughness. An empirical formula is presented based on the physical model experiments, with the maximum error less than 1% except at one point where the error is 1.6%, as compared to the experimental data. Meanwhile, it is shown that the location of the inception point of the air entrainment for the stepped spillway is much nearer to the top of the spillway than that for a smooth spillways, which explains why the high ratio of the energy dissipation is provided for the stepped spillway.

Energy dissipation on stepped spillways and hydraulic challenges—Prototype and laboratory experiences

Stepped cascades, chutes and spillways have been in use for more than three millennia. With the introduction of new construction materials and techniques, the staircase chute design has regained some interest within the last forty years. The stepped invert increases significantly the energy dissipation occurring above the steep chute and reduces the size of the required downstream stilling structure. The application of stepped chutes further encompasses in-stream re-aeration and water treatment plant cascades, to enhance the air-water transfer of atmospheric gases and of volatile organic components. However, the engineering design of stepped spillways is not simple because of the hydrodynamic challenges, with several markedly different flow regimes, some complicated two-phase air-water fluid dynamics and massive rate of energy dissipation above the stepped chute. Simply, the technical challenges in the hydraulic design of stepped spillways are massive. This review paper examines the hydraulic characteristics of stepped chute flows and develops a reflection on nearly three decades of active hydraulic research, including recent field measurements during major flood events. The author aims to share his passion for the complicated hydraulic engineering, as well as some advice for engineering professionals and researchers.

The effects of step inclination and air injection on the water flow in a stepped spillway:A numerical study

In this work, we perform a numerical study of a water flow over a stepped spillway. This flow is described by the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equation （RANS） associated with the turbulence k - model. These equations are solved using a commercial software based on the finite volume scheme and an unstructured mesh. The air-water flow was modeled using volume of fluid （VOF） and multiphasic methods. The characteristics of the profile, etc.. We analyze the effects on the flow structure of the flow were investigated including the total pressure, the velocity steps and countermarch inclination, the air injection through the countermarch into the water flow and the dynamics water discharges. Results show that the inclination of the countermarch relative to the vertical and the air injection into the water flow increase the total pressure in the neighbourhood of the steps.