Experimental and numerical investigation of bottom outlet hydraulic model

Abstract

Using experimental models along with conducting numerical analysis have been widely used in performance recognition and optimization of hydraulic equipments. Numerical modeling has lower cost rather than experimental one; however practical tests are commonly used because of the hydraulic structure importance especially in dams. Meanwhile numerical methods could be used for future designs through validating numerical models. In this paper, volume of fluid method, VOF, has been employed to simulate the free surface flow at the dam bottom outlet form bell mouth section up to the downstream channel. Since the flow through the gates has high Reynolds number, the standard k-ε and also Reynolds Stress Model, RSM, turbulence models is used and the results compared. The discharge coefficient and the ventilated air velocity through the vents is computed numerically and compared with the experimental data. Comparison between the experimental data and numerical simulation results shows good compatibility, especially in RSM turbulence model rather than k-ε turbulence model. The results show that the maximum error percentage in simulation of the discharge coefficient and the ventilated air velocity is 9% and 3% respectively.