ÉCOLE SPÉCIALE DES TRAVAUX PUBLICS, DU BÂTIMENT ET DE L’INDUSTRIE

HYDRAULIC DESIGN AND EXPERIMENTS

Physical model design and experiments

Professor EL KADI Abderezzak Kamal

Group CE3
Grigorii KRIVTSOV
Nadezhda KHMELEVA

Paris, 2023
 A 1:50 non-distorted scale model of a river including concrete overfall spillway and
stilling basin is to be built. The prototype flow discharge is 340 m3 /s and the spillway crest
length 50 m.

𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒 = 1: 50 ⇒ ℎ𝑟 = 𝐿𝑟 = 50 𝑚
3
𝑄𝑝 = 340 𝑚 /𝑠
𝐵𝑝 = 50 𝑚

Part I: rigid physical model

1) Discuss the similarity laws used for scaling the model.

1. Equal Vertical and Horizontal Scales:

Ensuring an undistorted model requires that the vertical and horizontal scales be
equal. This is a fundamental principle in modeling to maintain geometric similarity between
the model and the actual project.
ℎ𝑟 = 𝐿𝑟

2. Similarity of Froude Number:

𝑉
The Froude number 𝐹𝑟 = , which characterizes the relative importance of
𝑔·ℎ
inertial and gravitational forces in fluid flow, must be similar in both the model and the
prototype. Since gravity cannot be altered, achieving Froude similarity requires adjusting the
scaling of velocity and flow depth in the model.

3. Maintaining Fluid Properties:

It's crucial to keep the properties of the fluid (e.g., water) consistent between the
model and the actual project. This includes ensuring that physical quantities such as density
and viscosity remain numerically constant, so that the behavior of the fluid in the model
accurately represents reality.

4. Turbulence Matching:
To accurately replicate fluid flow and its viscous behaviors, an appropriate level of
turbulence must be maintained in the model. Achieving this requires scaling the Reynolds
number (Re) correctly. The Reynolds number is a dimensionless quantity that describes the
ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces and is crucial for predicting flow patterns.

In summary, maintaining similarity in various physical parameters, such as Froude

number, Reynolds number, and fluid properties, is essential for scaling a model to accurately
represent the behavior of the actual project. These principles are vital for ensuring that the
model's results can be extrapolated to real-world scenarios with confidence.
2) Determine the maximum model discharge required.

𝑄𝑝 5/2
𝑄𝑟 = 𝑄𝑚
= ℎ𝑟
5/2
𝑄𝑟 = 50 = 17677. 67
𝑄𝑝 340 3
𝑄𝑚 = 𝑄𝑟
= 17677.67
= 0. 019 𝑚 /𝑠

3) Determine the minimum prototype discharge for which negligible scale effects occur
in the model.

𝑅𝑒𝑚 > 4000

3/2 3/2
𝑅𝑒𝑟 = ℎ𝑟 = 50 = 353. 55
𝑅𝑒𝑝
𝑅𝑒𝑟 = 𝑅𝑒𝑚
⇒ 𝑅𝑒𝑝 = 𝑅𝑒𝑟 · 𝑅𝑒𝑚 = 353. 55 · 4000 = 1414213. 56
3
𝑄𝑝 = 340 𝑚 /𝑠
𝑄𝑝·𝑅𝑒𝑚 340·4000 3
⇒ 𝑄𝑚 = 𝑅𝑒𝑝
= 1414213.56
= 0. 96 𝑚 /𝑠

4) In tests involving baffle blocks for stabilizing the hydraulic jump in the stilling basin,
the force measured on each block was 11 N. What is the corresponding prototype force?

𝐹𝑚 = 11 𝑁

𝑉
𝐹=𝑚 ·𝑎 = ρ · 𝑉· 𝑙· ∆𝑇
5/2 1/2 3
𝐹𝑟 = ℎ𝑟 · ℎ𝑟 = ℎ𝑟
3
𝐹𝑟 = 50 = 125000
𝐹𝑝
𝐹𝑟 = 𝐹𝑚

𝐹𝑝 = 𝐹𝑟 · 𝐹𝑚 = 125000 · 11 = 1275000 𝑁 = 1375 𝑘𝑁

The channel downstream of the stilling basin is to be lined with rip-rap (angular
blocks of rock) approximately 650 mm in size. The velocity measured near the rip-rap is as
low as 0.15 m/s.

𝑑 = 650 𝑚𝑚
𝑉 = 0. 15 𝑚/𝑠
5) Check whether the model Reynolds number is large enough for the drag coefficient
of the model rocks to be the same as in the prototype.

2𝐹𝑑
𝐶𝑑 = 2
ρ·𝑉 ·𝐴
𝐹𝑑 = ρ · 𝑄 · 𝑉
5/2
2·ρ·𝑄·𝑉 2𝑄 ℎ𝑟
𝐶𝑑 = 2 = 𝑉·𝐴
⇒ 𝐶𝑑𝑟 = 1/2 2 =1
ρ·𝑉 ·𝐴 ℎ𝑟 ·ℎ𝑟

6) What will be the scale for the force ratio?

5/2 1/2 3
𝐹𝑟 = ℎ𝑟 · ℎ𝑟 = ℎ𝑟
3
𝐹𝑟 = 50 = 125000

Part II: moveable physical model (with sediment transport)

Now, the same physical model is to be extended to include the moveable bed river
upstream and downstream of the overfall spillway. The riverbed material is uniform and
composed of gravel of 10 mm in diameter. The Strickler coefficient is 45 m1/3/s. In the
physical model, a natural material has to be used.

𝑑 = 10 𝑚𝑚
1/3
𝐾𝑠 = 45 𝑚 /𝑠

7) Which similarity law you have respect for sediment transport? Justify your answer.

The primary similarity law that needs to be respected for sediment transport is the
scaling of the Reynolds number (Re) in both the model and the prototype. The Reynolds
number is a dimensionless quantity that characterizes the relative importance of inertial
forces to viscous forces in fluid flow. It plays a crucial role in determining the level of
turbulence in the flow, which is directly related to sediment transport behavior. Here's the
justification for this choice:

Turbulence and Sediment Transport: Sediment transport is significantly influenced by

turbulence within the flow. Turbulence enhances the mixing and suspension of sediment
particles, making them more mobile and prone to transport. Therefore, replicating the correct
level of turbulence in the model is essential for accurately simulating sediment transport.

Reynolds Number as a Key Parameter: The Reynolds number is a key parameter that
governs the transition from laminar to turbulent flow. In sediment transport studies, it is used
to ensure that the flow conditions in the model are similar to those in the prototype. Matching
the Reynolds number between the model and the prototype helps maintain similar turbulence
characteristics.

Importance of Viscous Effects: Sediment transport involves the interaction of solid

particles with the surrounding fluid. Viscous forces play a crucial role in determining how
sediment particles are entrained and transported. Scaling the Reynolds number correctly
ensures that the viscous behavior of the fluid is maintained, which is essential for realistic
sediment transport modeling.

In summary, by correctly scaling the Reynolds number in both the model and
prototype, we ensure that turbulence and viscous effects governing sediment transport are
accurately simulated, improving the model's representation of real-world sediment behavior.

8) Provide the diameter of the material to be used in the model. Which material you will
use?

𝑑𝑟 = ℎ𝑟 = 50
𝑑𝑝 𝑑𝑝 10
𝑑𝑟 = 𝑑𝑚
⇒ 𝑑𝑚 = 𝑑𝑟
= 50
= 0. 2 𝑚𝑚

According to the table, the obtained value corresponds to the diameter for the material
fine sand.

9) Determine the Strickler coefficient at the model scale. Comment your results.

1/2
2/3 𝑉 ℎ𝑟 −1/6
𝑉 = 𝐾𝑠 · 𝑅ℎ · 𝐽 ⇒ 𝐾𝑠𝑟 = 2/3 = 2/3 = ℎ𝑟
𝑅ℎ · 𝐽 ℎ𝑟
−1/6 −1/6
𝐾𝑠𝑟 = ℎ𝑟 = 50 = 0. 52
𝐾𝑠𝑝 𝐾𝑠𝑝 45 1/3
𝐾𝑠𝑟 = 𝐾𝑠𝑚
⇒ 𝐾𝑠𝑚 = 𝐾𝑠𝑟
= 0.52
= 86. 54 𝑚 /𝑠

The outcome is logical because, as evident from both the flow velocity formula and
the previous question's findings, a reduced Strickler coefficient corresponds to a smaller
material size. Consequently, this naturally leads to an increase in both flow velocity and
overall flow, as the river or channel bed presents less hindrance to water flow.

10) Following the experimental test using the maximum flow discharge, the model bed
was scanned and compared to the initial bed. The net change of volume is 0.5 m3. What
is the corresponding prototype volume?

3
𝑉𝑙𝑝 = 0. 5 𝑚
 3
𝑉𝑙𝑟 = ℎ𝑟
3
𝑉𝑙𝑟 = 50 = 125000
𝑉𝑙𝑝 𝑉𝑙𝑝 0.5 −6 3 3
𝑉𝑙𝑟 = 𝑉𝑙𝑚
⇒ 𝑉𝑙𝑚 = 𝑉𝑙𝑟
= 125000
= 4 · 10 𝑚 = 4 𝑐𝑚