Analysis of the Flow in a Typified USBR II Stilling Basin through a Numerical and Physical Modeling Approach

Arnau Bayon,Boris Huber,Juan Francisco Macián-Pérez,Francisco José Vallés-Morán,Rafael García-Bartual

doi:10.3390/w12010227

Abstract

Adaptation of stilling basins to higher discharges than those considered for their design implies deep knowledge of the flow developed in these structures. To this end, the hydraulic jump occurring in a typified United States Bureau of Reclamation Type II (USBR II) stilling basin was analyzed using a numerical and experimental modeling approach. A reduced-scale physical model to conduct an experimental campaign was built and a numerical computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was prepared to carry out the corresponding simulations. Both models were able to successfully reproduce the case study in terms of hydraulic jump shape, velocity profiles, and pressure distributions. The analysis revealed not only similarities to the flow in classical hydraulic jumps but also the influence of the energy dissipation devices existing in the stilling basin, all in good agreement with bibliographical information, despite some slight differences. Furthermore, the void fraction distribution was analyzed, showing satisfactory performance of the physical model, although the numerical approach presented some limitations to adequately represent the flow aeration mechanisms, which are discussed herein. Overall, the presented modeling approach can be considered as a useful tool to address the analysis of free surface flows occurring in stilling basins.

Highlights

The crucial role played by dams in civil engineering can only be understood due to its significant economic and social importance, which leads to high safety requirements, as a result of the critical consequences derived from a possible failure
The goal of the research is to present combined numerical and physical modeling as a tool to reach a better of the research is present combined andengineering physical modeling as awhich, tool to in reach better understanding ofto the flow taking placenumerical in hydraulic structures, turn,a can be understanding of the flow taking engineering structures, which, in new turn,security can be useful to improve their design in place order in to hydraulic tackle adaptation challenges derived from useful to improve theirchange designeffects
A general and representative case study consisting of a Creager spillway and a typified USBR

Summary

Introduction

The crucial role played by dams in civil engineering can only be understood due to its significant economic and social importance, which leads to high safety requirements, as a result of the critical consequences derived from a possible failure. This singularity, bound to the important growth in the number of dams built all around the world during the last decades, brings the importance of dam engineering into the spotlight [1]. The parts of the dam intended for this purpose are the spillways, which are usually complemented by stilling basins, to ensure the restitution of water to the river with the appropriate energy conditions. This design has traditionally been approached from the perspective of experimental campaigns, using reduced

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion