Abstract
Stepped spillways are used in the construction of dams, river engineering and soil conservation projects. Energy dissipation in this structure due to the presence of several steps is high, so the construction costs for stilling basin are reduced. The numerical models are new method for flow analysis. This study investigates the flow on the stepped spillway and calculates energy loss caused by it. Also in this study, fluctuation of velocity vectors, shear stress and pressure during the flow on each step is compared. For this purpose, a physical model of the stepped spillway was built with slope at a ratio of 2:1 (horizontal to vertical) and experiments were performed with ten different flow rates. The numerical simulations also were performed under the same conditions using FLUENT software and RNG k–ε turbulence model. Finally, the results of the numerical model were compared with experimental data. The results indicate that numerical model is in reasonable consistency with the physical model and it can be used in anticipation complex rotational flows in the stepped spillway.
Highlights
Stepped spillways are important as structures for energy dissipation at the downstream of dams
Due to the surface friction, velocity will be less than the above amount and the ratio of the real velocity to the maximum flow velocity depends on the type of the channel that fluid passes it
This reduction in flow velocity will be caused as a part of energy dissipation of flow
Summary
Stepped spillways are important as structures for energy dissipation at the downstream of dams. Due to the surface friction, velocity will be less than the above amount and the ratio of the real velocity to the maximum flow velocity depends on the type of the channel that fluid passes it. This reduction in flow velocity will be caused as a part of energy dissipation of flow. On stepped spillway besides the high amount of energy dissipation leading to a reduction in the size of stilling basin and cost savings, uplift pressure is reduced
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