Open Channel Confluences Research Articles

Discussion of “Influence of Downstream Channel Width on Flow Features in a T-Shaped Open-Channel Confluence”

Discussion of “Influence of Downstream Channel Width on Flow Features in a T-Shaped Open-Channel Confluence”

A new pH-based tracing method for flow mixing studies in closed-loop experimental flumes: evaluation in an open-channel confluence

A new pH-based tracing method for flow mixing studies in closed-loop experimental flumes: evaluation in an open-channel confluence

Effects of Bed Material and Downstream Flow Depth on the Evolution of Bed in a Right-Angled Open-Channel Confluence

Effects of Bed Material and Downstream Flow Depth on the Evolution of Bed in a Right-Angled Open-Channel Confluence

Numerical Simulation of Confluence Flow in a Degraded Bed

The fluid dynamics of channel confluences are highly complex due to flow separation and secondary currents. Although numerous studies in the past few decades have focused on the numerical simulation of confluence flow, deformed beds were rarely used. This study attempts to address this issue through numerical simulation of the flow behavior in an open-channel confluence flume with an equilibrium degraded bed in OpenFOAM (version 6.0) to compare the results with a flatbed. In the present study, different turbulence models, including Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS), large-eddy simulation (LES), and detached eddy simulation (DES) models were performed using rigid-lid and volume-of-fluid (VoF) methods. The accuracy of the models was statistically analyzed by comparing them with observation data. The results demonstrated that the LES model had the best performance, with a minimum average normalized root-mean-square error (NRMSE) of 3% under the VoF assumption. The investigation also further illuminated the intricate interplay of vortical structures within the confluence zone. Notably, the number and behavior of vortices were found to be influenced by channel geometry and size, as well as interactions between separated shear layers. Circulation within the separation zone near the inner bank differed in rotation between the degraded and flatbed cases.

Influence of Downstream Channel Width on Flow Features in a T-Shaped Open-Channel Confluence

Influence of Downstream Channel Width on Flow Features in a T-Shaped Open-Channel Confluence

On the delineation of the flow separation zone in open-channel confluences

In the context of a T-shaped open-channel confluence, where the tributary flow separates at the downstream junction edge and creates a separation zone in the post-confluence channel, this paper provides a critical reflection upon the terminology and the delineation methods for the separation zone and its proxies: the recirculation zone and the reverse flow zone. Following the fluid-mechanical literature on flow separation, the separation zone is delineated by a dividing surface formed by the three-dimensional (3D) streamlines separating from the downstream junction edge. Based on a dense 3D time-averaged velocity field obtained from a Large-Eddy Simulation of a lab-style confluence flow, the separation zone turns out to be open. Near the bed, the dividing surface exhibits a gap, through which mainly tributary fluid enters the separation zone, leading to a limited discharge flowing through that zone. Downstream of the section where the merging flows are the most contracted, the dividing surface does not reattach to the inner bank, prohibiting the determination of a maximum length of the separation zone. Downstream of that section, the dividing surface gradually loses its role as a skeleton for the separation zone shear layer. Due to mixing, the separation zone and the adjacent maximum velocity zone gradually dissolve and transform into the flow recovery zone, as in a wake. By means of flow visualization with 3D streamlines, revealing different types of recirculating motions, the maximum recirculation zone extent is determined. Then three simplified methods commonly used in the literature to quantify the dimensions of the separation zone or its proxies are evaluated by comparison with the 3D streamline method. By adopting various simplifying assumptions about the flow, the pseudo-streamline method, the zero-unit-discharge method and the zero-velocity method yield definite reasonable maximum lengths for the recirculation zone and the reverse flow zone. With the exception of the zero-velocity method, all simplified methods yield reasonable estimates for the maximum widths and the corresponding contraction coefficients of the separation zone proxies. Still, contrary to the simplified methods, only the 3D streamline method can provide physical insight into the flow features occurring in the separation zone or its proxies.

Numerical Investigation of the Optimum Angle for Open Channel Junction

Numerous natural and artificial streams, including those for irrigation ditches, wastewater treatment facilities, and conveyance structures for fish movement, have open channel confluences. The flow dynamics at and around the junction are intricate; in particular, immediately downstream of the junction, the flow creates a zone of separation on the inner wall along with secondary recirculation patterns. The structure of this complicated flow depends on several factors, including the flow rates in both channels, the angle of confluence, the geometry of the channels, including the longitudinal slope and bed discordance, the roughness of the boundary, and the intensity of the turbulence. It also has a significant impact on bed erosion, bank scouring, etc. The objective of the current work is to calculate the velocity profile and the separation zone dimensions for four angles (30o, 45o, 60o, and 75o) through the simulation process, and the best angle using a three-dimensional model. This work gives a detailed application of the numerical solution (Finite Volume) via Flow 3D software. Results for two flow discharge ratios, q*=0.250 and q*=0.750 were shown; the numerical model and the experimental results agreed well. The findings are consistent with past research and demonstrate how the main channel flow pattern is affected by changes in the channel crossing angle, as well as how greater separation zones are produced in the main channel when the flow discharge ratio q* (main channel flow divided by total flow) is smaller. Analysis revealed that the separation zone's smallest diameter will be at the 75ocrossing angle. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-05-07 Full Text: PDF

The quantitative response of pollutant spatial distribution and mixing dynamics to confluent conditions in an asymmetric open-channel confluence

River confluences are key nodes of pollutant transport in fluvial ecosystems and they are accompanied by complex hydrodynamic and mixing processes. The generalization and quantitative response of mixing to highly variable confluent conditions remain unclear. This studyinvestigates the spatial distribution and mixing process of pollutants through a series of meticulous experiments in an asymmetric open-channel confluence. Furthermore, we propose quantitative responses and characterization equations for the mixing rate and mixing metric for various confluent conditions, namely junction angle, momentum flux ratio, and width-depth ratio. The spatial distribution of pollutants have a strong three-dimensional structure, with a narrow-long pollution belt near the tributary and an almost vertical mixing interface adjacent to the downstream junction corner; this interface exhibits a logarithmic growth trend downstream and is affected by shear layer distortion. The standard deviation of the cross-sectional pollutant concentration at the confluence decreases gradually along with the downstream mixing of convergent flows, and the fitting curve slope increases as the junction angle, momentum ratio, and width-depth ratio increase. The mixing rate is promoted by the enhancements of helical motion, lateral advection, and turbulent diffusion caused by the strengthening of mutual deflection and lateral momentum flux under a large junction angle and momentum ratio, as well as the reductions of vertical velocity gradient and cross-sectional area under large width-depth ratio conditions. Sufficient and complete mixing occurs under a larger momentum ratio condition of >1 within a short distance of 4–5 widths of the main channel. In addition, the mixing metric shows a strong linear relationship with each of the three confluent conditions. In summary, the significant (p < 0.001) quantitative responses of the mixing rate and mixing metric can be characterized by a polynomial equation. These results have major implications for the systematic understanding of the three-dimensional distribution characteristics, mixing patterns, and mixing dynamics of pollutants at asymmetric confluences, as well as for the prediction or calculation of the downstream mixing metric.

Insights into effects of discharge ratio on flow characteristics and pollutant transport in a Y-shaped open channel confluence with emergent rigid vegetation

Turbulence generated within the vegetated confluence system is important for water quality and river management. In this study, we conducted a series of experiments to explore the extent to which emergent rigid vegetation in the confluence channel influences hydrodynamic characteristics and contaminant transport. First, a series of tests with increasing discharge ratios (from 0.35, 0.5, and 1) was conducted to quantify the effects of the discharge ratio on hydrodynamic conditions within the vegetated confluence. Then, tests with different discharge ratios were also set up to explore how contaminants released locations and modes (line and point source) influence the transport and mixing of contaminants. The results showed that increasing the discharge ratio induced larger momentum in the confluence area. The increase in discharge ratio rendered the circulation stronger, and its position came earlier in the non-vegetative area. In addition, the dimensionless turbulent kinetic energy peaked near the interface of the non/vegetated zone. With the increase in the discharge ratio, the dimensionless turbulent kinetic energy was found to be smaller. In the contaminants transport tests, the results revealed larger discharge ratio could speed up contaminants transport and mixing. The applications from this study would be helpful to pollutant transport management in natural confluences.

Numerical Investigation of Hydrodynamics in a U-Shaped Open Channel Confluence Flow with Partially Emergent Rigid Vegetation

The effects of partially emergent rigid vegetation on the hydrodynamics of a curved open-channel confluence flow were simulated using OpenFOAM. The numerical model using the Volume of Fluid method and the RNG k-ε turbulence model in the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations was first validated by existing experimental data with good agreement. Then the characteristics of hydrodynamics were analyzed in aspects of separation zone, water level, streamwise velocities, secondary flows, bed shear stress and flow resistance. Some main conclusions can be drawn from the results. Compared to the non-vegetated cases, the separation zones in vegetated cases are smaller in both length and width. With higher vegetation Solid Volume Fraction (SVF), the separation zone is divided into two parts, a smaller one right after the confluence point and a larger one on the second half of the curved reach after the confluence. The main circulation cell shrinks and the circulation near the concave bank moves towards the channel midline. The differences in velocities and bed shear stress between the convex and concave banks become larger with a higher SVF. Under the same SVF, a larger vegetation density has more disturbance on the tributary than a larger stem diameter.

3-D numerical simulation of curved open channel confluence flow with partially non-submerged rigid vegetation

3-D numerical simulation of curved open channel confluence flow with partially non-submerged rigid vegetation

Energy and momentum correction coefficients within contraction zone in open-channel combining flows

Flow dynamics associated with open-channel confluences are highly three-dimensional (3D) with significant velocity gradients in the contraction zone downstream of junctions. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of discharge ratio and junction angle on the non-uniformity of the velocity distribution within the contraction zone. A one-dimensional (1D) theoretical model and a 3D numerical model were developed to establish the relationships of the maximum values of energy and momentum correction coefficients (αm and βm) with discharge ratio (q) and junction angle (θ). The expressions of αm and βm were determined in terms of q and cosθ with the 1D theoretical model, and the constants were determined through regression analysis with the computed results from the 3D numerical model. The expressions show that αm and βm increased with an increase in junction angle or a decrease in discharge ratio due to the improved three-dimensionality of the flow structure. The expressions of αm and βm determined from the present study are consistent with the existing findings with θ = 90°.

Experiments on the Morphodynamics of Open Channel Confluences: Implications for the Accumulation of Contaminated Sediments

AbstractContaminated sediments are common in river networks. The flow convergence and particular flow structures in confluences, such as the flow separation zone, may result in greater accumulation of contaminated sediments than in other river locations, but this issue is rarely studied. In addition, the contaminated sediment transport is driven by the particular morphodynamics occurring at confluences. This article describes a novel confluence flume experiment on both morphodynamics and deposition patterns of contaminated sediments as a function of geometric and flow conditions. The initial equilibrium bed geometry was developed from a mobile bed and then fixed, allowing for subsequent flow velocimetry and sediment feeding. Colored sediments of fine gradation, which mimic contaminated sediments, were then fed to the tributary channel. The results suggest that the junction angle primarily determines the confluence bed morphology and sediment transport pattern while the discharge ratio is a secondary factor. It was also observed that most introduced sediments tended to deposit immediately after the cessation of feeding at the stoss of the bar in the flow separation zone. The time history of the transport of the contaminated sediments was also investigated. Sediment that initially deposited at the stoss of the bar eventually moved to the lee of the bar and deposited around the bar downstream of the confluence, demonstrating that the sedimentation pattern evolved to a state similar to the equilibrium bed morphology.

Effect of the sediment discharge on the equilibrium bed morphology of movable bed open-channel confluences

The objective of this study was to characterize the influence of sediment discharge on the morphology of movable bed, asymmetric, open-channel confluences. For this purpose, fifteen experiments were performed on rough turbulent flows through an experimental confluence, by running a single combination of confluent discharges and using a single bed material, with three different sediment loads in the main channel combined with five different sediment loads in the tributary channel. The experiments were run until equilibrium was reached. Physical interpretations of the influence of the sediment amount fed into the system on the most important variables and parameters of the confluent flows and confluence morphology were provided. Morphological variables considered included the height of the tributary mouth bar, the depth of the scour hole located in the vicinity of the tributary mouth, the deviation angle of the tributary flow and the dimensions of the bank-attached bar. The hydrodynamic parameters of the confluent flows studied included the unit momentum flux, the unit stream power or the ratio of confluent unit momentum fluxes. The crucial importance of the sediment load entering the system was highlighted since it was documented that i) both channels upstream of the confluence adapted their respective bed slope, flow depth and average flow velocity to respond to the independent sand amounts entering the system; ii) the characteristic dimensions and shape of the most important confluence features changed consistently with the imposed changes on the sediment discharge ratio and concentration; iii) for a given water discharge ratio, the unit momentum flux ratio depended on the sediment amounts flowing through the confluence instead of being an independent parameter.

Influence of bed elevation discordance on flow patterns and head losses in an open-channel confluence

Confluences play a major role in the dynamics of networks of natural and man-made open channels, and field measurements on river confluences reveal that discordance in bed elevation is common. Studies of schematized confluences with a step at the interface between the tributary and the main channel bed reveal that bed elevation discordance is an important additional control for the confluence hydrodynamics. This study aimed to improve understanding of the influence of bed elevation discordance on the flow patterns and head losses in a right-angled confluence of an open channel with rectangular cross-sections. A large eddy simulation (LES)-based numerical model was set up and validated with experiments by others. Four configurations with different bed discordance ratios were investigated. The results confirm that, with increasing bed elevation discordance, the tributary streamlines at the confluence interface deviate less from the geometrical confluence angle, the extent of the recirculation zone (RZ) gets smaller, the ratio of the water depth upstream to that downstream of the confluence decreases, and the water level depression reduces. The bed elevation discordance also leads to the development of a large-scale structure in the lee of the step. Despite the appearance of the large-scale structure, the reduced extent of the RZ and associated changes in flow deflection/contraction reduce total head losses experienced by the main channel with an increase of the bed discordance ratio. It turns out that bed elevation discordance converts the lateral momentum from the tributary to streamwise momentum in the main channel more efficiently.

Three-dimensional flow structure at fixed 70° open-channel confluence with bed discordance

This experimental study provides a characterization of the flow field created by bed discordance at a fixed 70 open-channel confluence on the basis of detailed free surface topography and three-component acoustic Doppler velocimetry measurements, which are contrasted with the results for a concordant bed junction. Due to bed discordance, the jet-like flow from the tributary is bent downstream to be aligned with the main channel axis. Underneath the tributary backward-facing step, separation occurs, producing negative vorticity along the main channel axis. A strong secondary motion downstream of the tributary junction is related to flow separation at the step and to flow release from the jet-like flow induced by a difference in the curvature of jet-like motion. A quantification of the terms in the equation of conservation of the longitudinal vorticity shows that the vortex stretching terms are sufficient to explain the development of the helical motion, which is thus classified as a secondary motion of Prandtl's first kind.

Flat vs. curved rigid-lid LES computations of an open-channel confluence

Abstract This paper describes the application of four Large Eddy Simulations (LES) to an open-channel confluence flow, making use of a frictionless rigid-lid to treat the free-surface. Three simulations are conducted with a flat rigid-lid, at different elevations. A fourth simulation is carried out with a curved rigid-lid which is a closer approximation to the real free-surface of the flow. The curved rigid-lid is obtained from the time-averaged pressure field on the flat rigid-lid from one of the initial three simulations. The aim is to investigate the limitations of the free-surface treatment by means of a rigid-lid in the simulation of an asymmetric confluence, showing the differences that both approaches produce in terms of mean flow, secondary flow and turbulence. After validation with experimental data, the predictions are used to understand the differences between adopting a flat and a curved rigid-lid onto the confluence hydrodynamics. For the present flow case, although it was characterized by a moderately low downstream Froude number (Fr ≈ 0.37), it was found that an oversimplification of the numerical treatment of the free-surface leads to a decreased accuracy of the predictions of the secondary flow and turbulent kinetic energy.

Discussion of “Tang, H., Zhang, H., &amp; Yuan, S. (2018). Hydrodynamics and contaminant transport on a degraded bed at a 90-degree channel confluence. Environmental Fluid Mechanics, 18(2), 443–463”

The authors measured and computed the hydrodynamics and passive scalar dispersion in 90-degree open channel confluences over flat and degraded beds with a dominant upstream or tributary inflow. The present discussion essentially deals with the direction of rotation of the secondary currents, reported for the flat bed configuration with dominant tributary inflow. This rotation direction is indeed surprisingly opposite to the ones reported in the literature, both from calculations and measurements, even if present geometry slightly differs from literature geometries.

Review of Flow Hydrodynamics and Sediment Transport at Open Channel Confluences

Review of Flow Hydrodynamics and Sediment Transport at Open Channel Confluences

Comparative 1D and 3D numerical investigation of open-channel junction flows and energy losses

Abstract The complexity of open channel confluences stems from flow mixing, secondary circulation, post-confluence flow separation, contraction and backwater effects. These effects in turn result in a large number of parameters required to adequately quantify the junction induced hydraulic resistance and describe mean flow pattern and turbulent flow structures due to flow merging. The recent development in computing power advances the application of 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes to visualize and understand the Confluence Hydrodynamic Zone (CHZ). Nevertheless, 1D approaches remain the mainstay in large drainage network or waterway system modeling considering computational efficiency and data availability. This paper presents (i) a modified 1D nonlinear dynamic model; (ii) a fully 3D non-hydrostatic, Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes Equations (RANS)-based, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model; (iii) an analysis of changing confluence hydrodynamics and 3D turbulent flow structure under various controls; (iv) a comparison of flow features (i.e. upstream water depths, energy losses and post-confluence contraction) predicted by 1D and 3D models; and (v) parameterization of 3D flow characteristics in 1D modeling through the computation of correction coefficients associated with contraction, energy and momentum. The present comprehensive 3D numerical investigation highlights the driving mechanisms for junction induced energy losses. Moreover, the comparative 1D and 3D study quantifies the deviation of 1D approximations and associated underlying assumptions from the ‘true’ resultant flow field. The study may also shed light on improving the accuracy of the 1D large network modeling through the parameterization of the complex 3D feature of the flow field and correction of interior boundary conditions at junctions of larger angles and/or with substantial lateral inflows. Moreover, the enclosed numerical investigations may enhance the understanding of the primary mechanisms contributing to hydraulic structure induced turbulent flow behavior and increased hydraulic resistance.