Dissipating Culvert End Design for Erosion Control Using CFD Platform FLOW-3D Numerical Simulation Modeling

Abstract

Downstream erosion and scouring caused by high-velocity flow issuing from culvert ends are one of the main problems faced by hydraulic engineers. The main objective of this paper was to develop a dissipating culvert end design that can reduce the risk of downstream erosion and scour caused by high-velocity flow issuing from typical culvert ends. For this purpose, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) platform FLOW-3D version 11.1.0 code was calibrated and validated based on the experimental runs [coefficient of determination R2>0.90 and root mean square error (RMSE)<1.9 cm]. Two alternative dissipating culvert end designs (ALT 1 and ALT 2) were then developed using the code, and their potential in mitigation of downstream erosion and scouring was analyzed. The issuing flow velocity and kinetic energy for each were measured and compared with typical culvert end (control) flow. According to the results, mass averaged fluid mean kinetic energy in the control flow was recorded at 1.37 j/kg2 and was measured at 0.83 and 0.73 j/kg2 in ALT 1 and ALT 2 flows, respectively. Accordingly, the removal of downstream sandbox mass under control flow was approximately 11.1% and 4.2% higher compared with ALT 1 and ALT 2 flows, respectively. FLOW-3D code can be used to predict culvert end flow and downstream erosion and to design potential dissipating culvert ends that can reduce downstream erosion.