Student J.A.

van Zwol

Graduation committee prof. drs. ir. J.K. Vrijling (Delft University of Technology)
dr. ir. S. van Baars (Delft University of Technology)
dr. ir. H.L. Fontijn (Delft University of Technology)
ir. T.H.G. Jongeling (WL | Delft Hydraulics)

Submerged vanes are low aspect ratio flow-training structures mounted vertically on the
riverbed at an angle to the prevailing flow. The vanes aim to generate a secondary circulation
in the main flow and are designed to modify the near bed flow pattern and to re-distribute flow
and sediment transport within the channel cross-section. Investigations by Odgaard et al. led
to the development of design guidelines for vane systems. Results of recent studies,
however, indicate that the widely adopted theoretical relations by Odgaard et al. are subjected
to shortcomings. The hypothesis can be raised that the theory of Odgaard does not account
for the physics of the flow past submerged vanes adequately and consequently, fails to
predict satisfactorily the lift and drag forces exerted on vanes (as found experimentally).
Furthermore, the development of local scour at submerged vanes is still undefined, though of
outmost importance to vane design.

In the period of March till June 2003, mobile bed tests were carried out in the outdoor facility
at BUET, as part of an experimental investigation of submerged vanes in the framework of the
*
BUET-DUT linkage project . The experiments were designed to investigate the effects of vane
height and angle of attack on scour development and flow field about a single thin, flat vane in
steady flow through a straight flume of rectangular cross-section. Experimental results do not
support the description of the flow past submerged vanes as presumed in the theory of
Odgaard. It is seen that the theory of Odgaard, which is developed for non-separated flow,
cannot be expected to hold for angles of attack higher than about 10°. In reality, significant
flow separation occurs for vanes at conventional and higher angles of attack.

The main shortcoming of the theory of Odgaard with respect to prediction of the mean lift and
drag forces exerted on a vane is that the model underlying the theory of Odgaard, the
classical lifting line theory for finite wings by Prandtl, is inappropriate for low aspect ratio
wings and submerged vanes. Non-linear models based on theories for low aspect ratio wings
by Bollay and Gersten are derived for prediction of the mean lift and drag forces exerted on a
sharp-edged slender vane protruding above a rigid bed. The validity of the non-linear models
is tested by comparison with experiment. It is concluded that the non-linear models give a
decisive improvement on the theoretical relations for lift and drag developed by Odgaard et al.

The local scour depths at submerged vanes are seen to depend strongly on the alignment to
the flow. Evaluation of the use of scour relations for slender bridge piers aligned to the flow to
predict equilibrium scour depths for submerged vanes indicates that use of such relations is
not readily acceptable. At angles of attack of 30° and higher, the agreement between flows
along the exposed sides of submerged vanes and bridge piers improves and thus, it may be
expected that scour relations for slender bridge piers give more accurate predictions of
equilibrium scour depths at submerged vanes at the higher ranges of angle of attack than at
the lower ranges of angles of attack.

The strength of the primary vortex increases with increasing angle of attack and decreasing
ratio of vane height to vane length. Increases in vortex strength are, however, accompanied
with enlarged flow resistance. An increase in the distance between pressure and suction side
results in a decrease in tip flow and hence, a decrease in the strength of the primary vortex.
Submerged vanes should preferably be equipped with sharp leading and top edges. The
structural width should be reduced to a minimum. Future experiments should concentrate on
vanes at the higher than conventional ranges of angle of attack, despite enlarged scour holes,
increased flow resistance and the presence of additional vortical structures.

*
BUET: Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh; DUT: Delft University of
Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.