Professional Documents
Culture Documents
v10 Tutorial Hydraulics
v10 Tutorial Hydraulics
v10 Tutorial Hydraulics
It would be much easier to determine the objectives if the flow rate was known already; it makes a better learning problem to assume only an upstream depth.
Problem Specification
Unit System Simulation units SI
Geometry Specifications Drop height: 0.62 m Drop length upstream of the brink: 0.7 m Channel length downstream of the brink: 2.0 m
Flow Conditions Upstream flow depth = 0.24 m Fluid Properties (Water) Viscosity = 0.001 Pa-s Density = 1000 kg/m3
Simulation Specifications 2D in x and z Free surface with sharp interface Incompressible fluid
Create a new simulation Select File and Add New Simulation. Enter "Vertical Drop." Select OK.
Figure 2: The newly created workspace and simulation in the Navigator view.
Click OK. The box is a solid, so select Standard as the Component Type. Name the component Drop, like the subcomponent, and click OK.
You should now see a cube in the Meshing and Geometry windows as shown in Fig. 5. This block is the drop structure. A mesh block will be added in the next step to specify the computational domain.
In the Model Setup > Meshing and Geometry tab, add a mesh block by right-clicking on Mesh Cartesian and selecting Add a mesh block. Change the definitions of Fixed Pt.s (1) and (2) (the mesh boundaries) to -0.7 and 2.0, respectively, so the mesh is defined as shown in Fig. 6. Name the block 2-D Domain.
RULE OF THUMB: PLACING ADDITIONAL FIXED POINTS IN REGIONS OF THE COMPUTATIONAL DOMAIN WHERE SOLID/ FLUID FLOW INTERFACES OCCUR OFTEN PRODUCES BETTER MODEL RESULTS. ALSO , FIXED POINTS CAN BE USEFUL
FOR RESOLVING SOLID SURFACES MORE ACCURATELY WITHOUT USING AN UNNECESSARILY FINE MESH FOR THE ENTIRE PROBLEM . I T IS RECOMMENDED THAT FIXED POINTS BE SPECIFIED ALONG FLAT SURFACES OF GEOMETRY, BUT NEVER ALONG FREE SURFACES OF FLUID.
Figure 7: Automatic and recommended fixed points around the drop structure
Add Fixed Points to the Mesh The next step is to add fixed points into the mesh at the locations of the drop structure surfaces in both the X and Z directions. Right click on Fixed Pt.(1) in the X Direction of the mesh Block 1 as shown in Fig. 8.
Select Add. In the Add Mesh Points pop-up window add a New Point 0.0, as shown in Fig. 9.
Select Add, then Close. Right click on Fixed Pt.(1) in the Z Direction of mesh Block 1 as shown in Fig. 10.
Select Add. In the Add Mesh Points pop-up window, add a New Point 0.62 in the Z Direction, as shown in Fig. 11.
RULE OF THUMB: A RULE OF THUMB FOR MESH RESOLUTION IS THAT AT LEAST 3 CELLS ARE REQUIRED TO RESOLVE A
FLOW FEATURE SUCH AS A FREE -SURFACE JET.
In order to follow the rule of thumb, we need to determine the size of the cells necessary to adequately resolve the free-surface jet. To do that we need to determine the minimum thickness of the nappe. As the water flows over the drop and forms the nappe, it accelerates under gravity and becomes thinner, so the minimum thickness occurs at the impact between the nappe and the receiving pool, as shown in Fig. 12.Let's estimate the thickness of the nappe: Empirical relations by Rand (1955) will be used to estimate the nappe thickness dnappe at the pool impact. The depth of the flow at the inlet (Hupstream) = 0.24 m as defined in the Problem Specification, above. From Rand (1955), . .
The upstream discharge per unit width (qW) is unknown, so we must take intermediate steps to determine the flow rate. This simulation runs quickly, so we will run the simulation with an assumed (coarse) mesh size and use a feature of FLOW-3D called Probe along with a set of generated simulation data called Mesh Dependent History to determine the volumetric flow rate. Before we can run the simulation, we need to define the boundary conditions and fluid properties, as well as physical parameters like gravity.
Select the Model Setup > Meshing & Geometry > Mesh Cartesian > Mesh Block 1 > Boundaries tree, and then select the X-min boundary by expanding the tree at the left. The dialog box shown in Fig. 13 will appear. Select the Specified pressure radio button. Enter 0.86 in the Fluid height box. (Fluid depth upstream is 0.24m and height of the drop is 0.62m from the x-axis so the Fluid height, in the Z coordinate, = 0.24 + 0.62 = 0.86 m). Keep the Pressure box entry blank which means a value of zero will be used as reference to set hydrostatic pressure at the boundary. Set F Fraction = 1.0 (all fluid entering the simulation is 100% water) and leave Stagnation Pressure active (flow enters at zero velocity, as from a reservoir. This means that steady-state flow velocity is computed within the mesh, which will give the most accurate result, assuming the boundary is far enough away from the drop structure edge). Click OK.
Specify Outflow Boundary Condition An outflow boundary condition will be specified at X-maximum boundary (the downstream boundary). Fluid is permitted to leave the boundary, but not to enter. This option assumes that the flow through the boundary is super-critical (Froude number greater than 1). Select the X-max boundary. Select the Outflow radio button. Click OK.
Set Wall Boundary Condition Boundary condition at Z-minimum boundary (the downstream channel bottom) to be set to Wall boundary condition. For this problem, friction losses from the channel bottom are assumed to be negligible, so no roughness will be assigned to the wall boundary. Select the Boundaries tab and then select the Z-min boundary. Select the Wall radio button.
Symmetry Boundary Conditions The remaining boundaries are pre-set as Symmetry boundary conditions. This means that the boundaries will be treated as if conditions outside of the boundary were identical to conditions inside the boundary. For the Y boundaries, this implies that the drop structure is much wider than the mesh. For the Z-maximum boundary, the void above the flow extends infinitely. If the model were poorly designed and flow reached the Z-maximum boundary, it would be reflect downward unphysically.
Figure 14: Fluid properties for water in SI units as loaded from the material database.
Selecting Hydrostatic pressure in the Z direction sets up a hydrostatic pressure in any initial fluid regions and more importantly sets up a hydrostatic pressure on the inflow boundary. Without setting this condition, the pressure on the inflow boundary would be uniform, although it will adjust very quickly under the effect of gravity in the domain.
Should I treat the simulation is inviscid? and Do I need to model surface tension effects? should be answered early in the modeling process. The flow below the drop structure is likely highly turbulent so the flow will be modeled as Turbulent with Newtonian viscosity. The only other model which needs to be activated is Gravity. Surface tension effects are insignificant due to the size of the problem, so the Surface Tension model can be left inactive. This can be demonstrated by calculating the Weber number ( We = V 2 L / s )where is the fluid density, V is a characteristic velocity, L is a length scale, and is the surface tension coefficient. If We >> 1, surface tension effects can be ignored. Since we do not know the velocity yet, we will have to make a safe assumption that surface tension does not contribute significantly to the flow effects. In the next step, the appropriate physical models will be activated. Activate the Gravity Model Select the Model Setup > Physics tab. Select the Gravity button. Set the value of Gravity component in the Z Direction to -9.81 as shown below.
Click OK.
There are a number of choices for Turbulence models in FLOW-3D. The most robust and widely applicable turbulence model is the RNG (Renormalized Group) model. That model requires a maximum turbulent mixing length, which represents the upper limit of the size of an expected turbulent eddy in the simulation and is used to limit the amount of turbulent energy created by the turbulence models. RULE OF THUMB: A GOOD ESTIMATE OF THE TURBULENT LENGTH SCALE IS 7% OF THE HYDRAULIC DIAMETER (FLOW DEPTH) IN A HIGHLY TURBULENT REGION WHICH IS LIKELY TO CONTROL THE FLOW. AN ESTIMATE OF THE MAXIMUM TURBULENT MIXING LENGTH USED IN FLOW-3D IS 7% - 13% OF THE CONTROLLING DEPTH. One of the problem objectives for this simulation is to determine the depth of the pool. This depth is just upstream of the point where the nappe impinges on the bottom of the channel. This impingement point is the most turbulent region in the domain and also controls significant flow features. Therefore, the thickness of the nappe could be used to estimate the turbulent length scale. Since we do not know the thickness yet, we will ask FLOW-3D to determine the turbulent length scale for us. Specifying your own turbulent mixing
length scale is sometimes preferable to letting FLOW-3D determine the scale automatically, but it can be difficult to estimate. Activate Viscosity and Turbulence Activate Newtonian viscosity and RNG turbulence with dynamically-computed max mixing length. Select the Model Setup > Physics tab. Select the Viscosity and turbulence button. The dialog shown in Fig. 17 will appear. Under the Viscosity options, activate the Viscous flow option. Under Turbulence options, select Renormalized group (RNG) model. Under Maximum turbulent mixing length, activate Dynamically computed. Click OK.
Figure 17: Select the RNG turbulence model and set dynamically computed turbulent length scale.
It is also possible to change the Finish time "on the fly" while a simulation is in progress using Runtime Options in the Simulation tab.
The interface will automatically switch to the Simulate tab. The preprocessor should complete quickly and then the solver will start. The simulation should run in less than 1 minute. Select Mean kinetic energy at the left and note that the MKE begins to oscillate around a mean value as the simulation progresses. This tells us that our estimate of characteristic time (t = 0.77 s) was reasonable since we expect the flow to be steady within 10 to 20 time scales. Once the simulation finishes it will post-process the data. When the text readout at the screen bottom displays the message 'Postprocessor Done', the simulation is complete.
Figure 19: Oscillation of steady-state mean kinetic energy (MKE) with coarse mesh
Visually Check the Results for Physicality Among the tabs at the top of the screen, select 2-D. Select Render at the bottom of the screen. Step through the eleven data restart plots by selecting Next from the buttons on the right of the screen. At the final (steady-state) time step, the view should match that shown in Fig. 20. Notice that the freesurface jet over the drop structure is too thin to be resolved and that the free surface of the visible water is blocky at this preliminary mesh resolution.
Determine the Volumetric Flow Rate Graphically Select the Model Setup > Analyze tab. Among the tabs at the top of the screen, select Probe. Under Data source, select the Mesh dependent history radio button. In the Data variables selection pane, click the Select check boxes for left boundary fluid 1 volume flow rate and right boundary fluid 1 volume flow rate. Under Output form, select Graphical. Make sure that under Time frame the left and right slider bars are extended to the minimum and maximum simulation times. The screen should appear as in Fig. 21. Select Render at the bottom of the screen. The tab switches to Display. Above the frame selection pane, change the dropdown from Single to Overlay. Select both frames (1 and 2) by clicking on their names. The screen should appear as in Fig. 22. Because of the poor mesh resolution, the outgoing flow rate is oscillating about the mean. The incoming flow rate, however, is fairly steady, and we will use this rate as our estimate.
Determine the Volumetric Flow Rate Numerically Return to the Analyze > Probe tab. Select Text output instead of Graphical output. Deselect right boundary fluid 1 volume flow rate, since we only want the steady-state rate at the inlet. Select Render. A text report appears as shown in Fig. 23. Next to each time entry in the simulation is listed a time and a value for vfb1, which is the x-minimum volumetric flow rate at that time. Note that the flow rate increases from zero at the beginning of the simulation and oscillates around a mean at the end. This indicates that the simulation is reaching steady state, but our mesh is too coarse to reach a numerically stable result. Nonetheless, for this first pass, the results are reasonably accurate, and so to determine the steady-state flow rate, we will average the last 10 values in the output file. The steady state flow into the simulation Q is approximately 0.243 m3/second. Select Continue to exit the dialog.
The drop height Hdrop = 0.62 meters as defined in the Problem Specification, above. Critical flow depth for a rectangular channel is defined as .
qW is the flow rate per unit width. Since our simulation is 1 meter wide (the mesh extents in the ycoordinate are 0,1), qW = 0.243 m2/s. Gravity was previously defined on the Physics tab as g = 9.81 m/s2 in the downward direction.
In the Auto Mesh pop-up window select X Direction and Z Direction. Select Size of Cells and enter the cell lengths as 0.02.
Change the Turbulent Mixing Length Method Select the Model Setup > Physics tab. Select the Viscosity and turbulence button. The dialog shown in Fig. 25 will appear. Under Maximum turbulent mixing length, change the method to select Constant, and enter 0.0098 as the constant turbulent mixing length. Click OK.
Set up a Flux Surface at the Drop Edge. Select the Model Setup > Meshing & Geometry tab. Since the edge of the drop structure is at x = -0.0, we will place our first flux surface there. Note that baffles, including flux surfaces, occur by definition at the interface between cell planes. Because of this constraint, flux surfaces will be moved during pre-processing to the nearest cell face, and this means that baffles that are slanted relative to the mesh will become stepped. In the meshing tree on the left, right-click Baffles, and select Add. Expand the newly added Baffle 1 tree and activate Define as Flux Surface. Expand the Definitions portion of the Baffle 1 > Baffle Region 1 tree and enter 0.0 as the X Coordinate. This creates a flux plane across the entire Y-Z plane at x = 0. Note that we could also use the Limiters portion of the tree to create a flux surface that is like a window within the mesh. Expand the Porosity Properties for Baffle 1 and set Porosity to 1.0. Give the Baffle Name as Edge and Save your work. The tree should appear as in Fig. 26.
Check your work using FAVORize. FAVORize is a tool that allows you to see your geometry and initial fluid regions the way the FLOW-3D solver will see it. It is a useful tool for checking the resolution of meshes, as well as data that is not visible in the normal Meshing & Geometry view, such as the location of baffles and initialized fluid. Select the FAVORize button above the display; it looks like this: Use the radio buttons to View Component Volume as Solid. Select Render. .
Note the flux plane is now visible. When you are done viewing the FAVORized geometry, select Return To Model Building to exit the FAVORize tool.
Throughout the simulation these selected flow quantities will be written out at intervals of 0.01*the Finish time. In this case, Selected data will be written at t = 0.00, 0.15, 0.30, 0.45 ... 15.00 seconds.
steady state solution at t = 8 seconds, the total error is less than 2% and improves from there, so we have confidence in our results. There are several Mentor Tips that the flow is nearly steady: these confirm that we selected an adequate Finish time, and let us know that the flow is nearly steady by 8.7 seconds (we will use this later to derive time-averaged values). Once the simulation finishes it will post-process the data. When the text readout at the screen bottom displays the message 'Postprocessor Done,' the simulation is complete.
Figure 29: No oscillation of steady-state mean kinetic energy (MKE) with resolved mesh
Select Render at the bottom of the screen. Step through the eleven data restart plots by selecting Next from the buttons on the right of the screen. At the final (steady-state) time step, the view should match that shown in Fig. 31. Notice that the freesurface jet over the drop structure is now well-resolved and that the free surface of the visible water is smooth at this refined mesh resolution. Also note that the flux plane is visible at the drop edge.
The interesting downstream features of the drop are the depth of the pool hp, the downstream depth yp, and the pool length, L, which are defined in Fig. 32. It is also important to estimate the energy loss E over the drop. The height of the drop structure is defined here as H = 0.62 m. The downstream depth is the steadystate depth of flow just downstream of the pool, and is typically less than the depth in the impact pool. The pool length is defined as the length of flow between the drop structure and point where the downstream (steady) depth is reached. We will now determine these parameters from the simulation results.
Determine Pool Length L The pool length L is the distance from the drop surface to the point where the angle of the nappe entering the pool coincides with the floor. Because the angle of the nappe varies after entering the pool, it can be difficult to define the location of the downstream end of the pool. We will estimate this point as the point at which the vertical component of velocity approaches zero. Select the Analyze > Text Output tab. Select Selected as the Data source. This selects the output data that was written every hundredth of the simulation time (every 0.15 seconds). Select z-velocity in the Data variable list. Select the X Limits sliders to output values for the cells between x = 0.51 m and x = 1.99 m (the locations listed are the cell centers). Move the Z Limits sliders together to output the component velocity at cell center z = 0.01. Move both sliders in Time frame to the last time frame, t = 15 seconds, as this is the only time frame we're interested in currently. Click the Render button. The results will appear as shown in Fig. 33 below. The z-magnitude velocity is very negative where the pool entry occurs, quickly leveling out by x = 0.91 m, and then slightly positive as the flow thickens downstream of the nappe. We can interpolate the inflection point where z-velocity = 0 to be the end of the pool at x = L = 0.913 m at the final time step. We might expect that the location of the inflection point will vary with time, even though the simulation has reached steady state. For many problems, it would be sufficient to use the final time step value as our steady-state estimate. We can check this assumption by moving the X Limits sliders to plot only x = 0.81 to x = 0.97, and extending the Time frame sliders to cover the time period from t = 8.7 seconds to t = 15 seconds (the time period during which the solver reported the flow as nearly steady). Select Render to see the output as shown in Fig. 34. Copying this data to a spreadsheet program for manipulation allows us to take the time average of the interpolated inflection points to compare to the final time step. This gives a more accurate estimate
than in the previous step, as it shows the oscillation of the pool length due to turbulence. The pool length L varies between 0.841 and 0.938 m, and the average pool length L is 0.883 m.
Figure 33: Text output of Z-Velocity showing inflection point at last time-step
Figure 34: Text output of Z-Velocity showing inflection point varying with time
Determine the Downstream Depth y1 Now that we have determined the location of downstream depth y1 in the x-direction (coinciding with the pool length), we can take a time average of the depth at that location. If we are confident with our spreadsheet approach to analyzing the data, we can continue with that method. If we would like FLOW-3D to interpolate the data for us, we can use a Neutral File. To do this, we must write a transf.in file, which is described in more detail later in this manual. Select the Navigator tab. If you are using Windows, look on the right under Selected Simulation and right-click the path listed for Simulation Input File. The folder containing the simulation will open with the prepin file for the simulation highlighted. If you are using a version of Linux, navigate to the simulation manually. Create a text file called transf.in using a text editor. Write the file as shown in Fig. 35. The first three lines are optional title lines, the -1 and 0 lines are required placeholders, and the -0.7 0.0 0.0 line gives the x, y, and z coordinates of the minimum domain boundaries, respectively. After that a single point is given with x, y, z coordinates where we wish to interpolate data. The x point is our average pool length L, the y point is the cell center since it is a 2-D simulation, and the z point is also a cell center, since Fluid Depth output is the same for all z-values at a given x and y. We could list as many points as we are
interested in, and get interpolated output for all of them, but we are only interested in one point currently.
Figure 35: Text output of Z-Velocity showing inflection point varying with time
Note that some operating systems (Windows) will attempt to append .txt to the file name. You must remove the added characters by unselecting Hide Extensions for Known File Types under Folder and Search Options and then renaming the file (see your operating system help for more detail). Once the file is saved, return to the user interface and select Analyze > Neutral File. Under Data Source choose Selected. In the Data variables window select Fluid Depth and deselect any other variables that are highlighted. Move the X Limits and Z Limits Sliders to cover the entire domain. Move the Time-frame sliders to cover the range of times from t = 8.7 seconds to t = 15.0 seconds, as before. Click the Render button. As shown in Fig. 36, the output (which is also written to a text file called transf.out in the simulation folder) follows the same format as the input file, with time, title, and placeholder lines followed by the number of output variables (1), the name of the variables (fldpt), a line with the minimum mesh coordinates for reference, and then a line with the interpolation coordinates and variable value(s). The depth oscillates less than 2 mm at the average inflection point. Taking the time average of the interpolated values shows the downstream depth y1 varies between 0.0562 and 0.0579 m, and averages 0.0572 m.
Figure 36: Interpolated neutral file output showing fluid depth at average pool end location.
Determine the Pool Depth yp From Fig. 32 it can be seen that the pool depth yp must be measured at a location where two free surfaces exist in the vertical direction (the flow over the drop structure and the pool below it both have free surfaces). Using fluid depth as an output variable, as we did to find the downstream depth, will not work for the pool depth since the output only indicates the depth of the uppermost fluid surface. Instead, fraction of fluid will be used to locate the lower free surface. We will determine the lowest elevation at which the fluid fraction (per cell) transitions from nearly 100% to nearly 0%. This is the free surface transition. The location h1 is just slightly downstream of the drop face which is located at x = 0.0. A text output of fraction of fluid in the vertical row of cells just downstream of the drop will tell us the location of yp. Select the Analyze > Text Output tab Move both X sliders in the Limits group box to x = 1.0e-2 (sliders move from cell center to cell center, and our cell size is 0.02 in the x-direction, so 0.01 is the center of the cell adjacent to the x=0 axis, which is also the face of the drop structure). Select Fraction of Fluid in the Data variables list and deselect any other variables. We want to look at these values in the first column of cells downstream from the drop structure, which is 0.62 m high. Slide the Z sliders in the Limits group box to include the z-range from 1.0e-2 to 6.1e-1. Move both Time-frame sliders to the last time frame, 15 sec. By doing this, we will only plot the fluid fractions in the column of cells adjacent to the drop structure face at the final time step. We are assuming that the pool depth is at steady state at this time. If the pool depth is oscillating, then we
would want to include the time average of the steady-state period of the simulation. The selections should appear as in Fig. 37. Click Render button. The results will appear as shown in Fig. 38.
Figure 37: Limits for using fraction of fluid to determine pool depth
Fluid fraction is greater than 0 and less than 1 (0.627) at this location. This indicates the pool free surface is located 62.7% of the distance between 0.30 and 0.32 m.
In the displayed results you will see that X, Y and Z points are arranged with Z in ascending order. The fluid fraction is displayed for each cell starting at the bottom of the pool and proceeding to the top, cell by cell. Each z-coordinate corresponds to the center of a cell (rounding shows that the cell centers are spaced every 0.02 m, with the lowest cell center at 0.01 m, following our mesh specifications). In the cell with center z = 0.31, the fluid fraction is 0.671 (67.1%). The cell above this, with center z = 0.33, has a fluid fraction of zero (air), and the cell below this (center z = 0.29) has a fluid fraction of 0.99 (wet), so it is in the cell with center 0.31 that the free surface is found. Interpolating using the cell edges: z = 0.30 + 0.671*(0.32 - 0.30) = 0.3134 gives the precise elevation of the free surface at the final time step. As an optional step, choose Selected data, select z limits = 0.28 to 0.32 m, open the time sliders to cover the steady-state period from t = 8.7 to 15 seconds to the finish, and take the average of the pool depth using fluid fraction as explained above. This is best accomplished in a spreadsheet, although it is helpful to plot it graphically from the Probe tab as shown in Fig. 39. The pool depth ranges between 0.301 and 0.303, and the average pool depth yp is 0.302 m.
Figure 39: Quasi-steady-state fluctuation of pool depth yp at z = 0.31 (z = 0.29 not shown)
Determine Critical Depth yc and Critical Flow Location xc on the Drop Structure
The energy loss across the drop structure is the difference between the flow energy at Section 1 (the critical flow point) and 2 (the end of the pool), as shown in Fig. 40. The energy at section 1 (E1) is the hydraulic head
of the fluid at xc, where subscript c indicates the critical flow section. We will locate the critical flow transition and the hydraulic head of the critical flow point and pool end using FLOW-3D's output. We must first determine the location xc of the critical transition and the depth yc. The definition of critical flow is flow with Froude number Fr equal to 1, so we need to determine the X location on the drop structure where the Froude number changes from subcritical (Fr < 1.0) to critical (Fr = 1.0). This can be done by creating Text Output of Froude number above the drop structure. Select the Analyze > Text Output tab. We want to look at Froude number and fluid depth along the X Direction. Choose Selected from the Data source box on the left. Select (only) Froude Number and Fluid Depth in the Data variable list. Check the sliders in the Limits box: time and z should be maximum only. Fluid depth and Froude number are reported by FLOW-3D for each column of z-cells, rather than separately for each cell in the column. Using only the top-most z-cell as the reporting criteria prevents repeating the same data over and over for each layer of z-coordinates. The X limit sliders should include the domain from x = -0.69 to x = -0.01 m (upstream of the drop face). Click Render button. The results will appear as shown in Fig. 41 below.
Critical depth can be determined at the point where the Froude number = 1.0. Interpolating the fluid depths and X-direction cell centers between the points where Fr = 0.9975 and 1.0218 in Fig. 39 gives the exact result for the final time step, which if we check does not vary (to four significant digits) during the steadystate period from t = 8.1 to t=15 seconds. The minimum, maximum, and average critical depth yc is 0.1576 m, and occurs at xc = - 0.448 m. Use the Flux Surface to find Flow Rate Q at the Drop Edge Select the Analyze > Probe tab, and under Data source select General history (this is where flux surface output is found). In Output form, select Graphical. In the Data variables window select fluid1 flowrate at Edge. Select Render. The plot will appear as in Fig. 42. To determine the flow rate Q more accurately, re-render the plots in Text mode. Flow rate Q ranges from 0.1952 to 0.1965 m3/s, with average flow rate Q of 0.1958 m3/s. Note that this differs significantly from our original estimate of 0.243 m3/s, although probably not significantly enough to warrant recalculating the nappe width and readjusting the turbulent mixing
length and mesh resolution. You can check this by using a finer mesh and seeing if the flow rate or other parameters change.
Determine Energy Loss Determine the energy loss between the critical point and the downstream end of the pool using the Neutral File. Edit the neutral file transf.in you created in a previous step as shown in Fig. 43. Note that the two points we are now going to look at interpolated information for are the upstream critical depth location and the downstream average end of the pool length. Save the file when you are done.
Select the Analyze > Neutral File tab. Choose Selected under Data source. Separate the Min and Max sliders of the Time frame to 8.7 and 15 seconds. Separate the X and Z Limits Sliders to cover the entire domain. Select Total Hydraulic Head under Data Variables. Click on the Render button. The output variable is listed in the output file as thead. Subtract the first value (E1) from the second value (E2) to find the head loss E.
Note that the total hydraulic head includes the velocity component and elevation component of each cell center. It is not a depth-averaged value. The time average of the head loss shows that the head loss E = E1 - E2 varies between 0.1888 and 0.2050 m, with average head loss E = 0.1980 m. The average upstream head E1 = 0.8571 m.
(Rand, 1955)
Where h1 = pool depth, h2 = downstream depth, L = pool length, yc = critical depth (0.1576 m), and H = the drop height (0.62 m).
Table 1: Results of the 2-D FLOW-3D simulation compared to the results computed from experimental fit equations by Rand (1955) and Rajaratnam and Chamani (1995).
The actual flume experiment by Rajaratnam and Chamani took place in a 0.46-m wide flume with Plexiglas sides. The wall effects are probably not negligible, and the turbulent mixing in the recirculation zone takes place in three dimensions. Simplifying this problem to a 2-D case as we have ignores these, and so probably is contributing to an insufficient energy loss (and therefore an exaggerated pool depth). A 3-D case should be run to investigate whether this supposition is true. The flow are upstream of the drop structure appears to be short, and it is unlikely that a boundary layer is forming sufficiently before the drop occurs: this might affect the drop turbulence characteristics. This discrepancy may be affecting the results, which are being compared to an experiment that took place in a much longer flume.
References
Chanson, H. (1996). Energy Loss at Drops - Discussion. Journal of Hydraulic Research, IAHR, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 273-278 (ISSN 0022-1686). Rajaratnam, N. and M.R. Chamani (1995), Energy loss at drops, Journal of Hydraulic Research, IAHR, Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 373-384. Rand, W. (1955), Flow Geometry at straight drop spillway, Proc ASCE., Vol. 81, No. 791, pp. 1-13.