Author(s): R. Feurich; F. Kettner; N. R. B. Olsen
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Spillway; CFD; Hydraulic model testing; Free surface flows
Abstract: Knowing the maximum spillway capacity is important for the safety of dams and for flood prevention especially in the future, when it is believed that climatic change will cause higher flood events. The most common way for investigating the flow over spillways is done by physical model tests, either during planning phase or when modifying existing constructions. An alternative is 3D-numerical modelling which is gaining more and more significance. The authors of the current study performed numerical investigations using a commercial threedimensional code, applying the volume of fluid method for the complex free surface flow to calculate the flow field in a reservoir and at the weir gates. The numerical results were compared with water level measurements from a physical model test conducted at the hydraulic laboratory at Trondheim. Additionally, the model was tested on a simplified flow expansion, testing the free surface capabilities for high Froude numbers. Reasonably good results were found, indicating that the chosen CFD program can be used for detailed studies of spillway and reservoir hydraulics.
Year: 2011