Evaluating the performance of ANSYS-CFX software in simulation the velocity and pressure distributions over circular crested weirs

Abstract

ANSYS-CFX is an effective and multipurpose software which can be used for simulation the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions at all levels of complexity. This software can be used for numerical solution of two and three dimensional flows, compressible and incompressible flows, viscous and non-viscous flows, laminar and turbulent flows, Newtonian and non-Newtonian flows, porous media, steady and unsteady and FIS by finite element method. Hydraulic control structure is one of the major components of irrigation and drainage systems. Circular crested weirs are extensively used in the hydraulic structures due to simple and relatively precise relationships.To evaluate the performance of ANSYS-CFX software in simulation the flow patterns over the weir crest, two different cylindrical weirs with 90 and 45 for up-and downstream angles, respectively, and also with 60 and 45 for up-and downstream angles, respectively were considered. Three different discharge and concequently three are considered for each weir shape. The results showed that the data predicted by the software in a good agreement with experimental data. The results indicate that the up-and downstream weir face angle has no significant effect on the output of the model and this model approaches work well for pressure and velocity distributions with two different cylindrical weirs angles. In general, the results of 45-90 weirs angles is better than the results of 45-60.