Discussion of “Analysis of Submergence in Flow Measuring Flumes”

Abstract

This paper presents another contribution to the understanding of flow phenomena for measuring flumes. The particular regime of submerged flow has been largely neglected, although there have been a number of attempts to establish criteria and methods for analyzing submerged flow as referenced by the authors. The common approach has been to develop the theory to a point and then proceed with an empirical and experimental approach. In this manner it has been possible to develop relationships which are usable for particular flumes of given geometry. However, because of the empirical approach, it is not possible to use the relationships for designs other than those for which they were developed. This paper also summarizes a study for particular design geometries and has contributed to the knowledge of submerged flow. There still exists the need for good, sound theoretical developments so that the relationships include the geometry of the measuring flume, as well as those items usually assumed to be of negligible effect, such as frictional losses and nonuniform velocity distribution. The geometry variables have been included for the free flow case by Ackers and Harrison with apparent success. Flume geometry is important since such things as length of throat, contraction ratio (B), shape of section (rectangular or trapezoidal), and geometry of the downstream diverging section all contribute to submergence effects.