Development and validation of a Lagrangian method for 3D turbulent flows with curvilinear free-surface

Abstract

A numerical model was developed based on a moving grid method for simulating three-dimensional turbulent flows affected by curvilinear free surface. Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations with the k–e turbulence model were solved in non-orthogonal curvilinear coordinates. In the free surface, the kinematic boundary condition was implicitly imposed in the pressure Poisson equation derived from the momentum and continuity equations. The water surface elevation was calculated at each time step without solving additional equations. The developed numerical model was validated using the experimental data of the strongly curved channels and submerged hydraulic jump. The numerical simulation of the flow field and free surface elevation in all cases were compared with the experimental results. The agreement between the simulated and measured results was satisfactory for three-dimensional turbulent flows in the strongly curved channels and submerged hydraulic jump. The secondary flow and dip phenomena were correctly simulated in strongly curved channels. This numerical model could accurately predict steep water surface gradients in a submerged hydraulic jump. The reasonable results of the numerical simulation demonstrate the capability of the presented Lagrangian method in hydraulic engineering applications. This model provides a suitable method for simulating the free surface in engineering and environmental problems.