Effects of Inclination Angles on Stepped Chute Flows

Owing to its effective energy dissipation and aeration, a stepped spillway is commonly used for flood release in hydraulic projects. Its conventional design features horizontal step surfaces. Designed for certain flow rates, it does not function satisfactorily at larger discharges. To improve this,...

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Main Authors: Shicheng Li, James Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/18/6202
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author Shicheng Li
James Yang
author_facet Shicheng Li
James Yang
author_sort Shicheng Li
collection DOAJ
description Owing to its effective energy dissipation and aeration, a stepped spillway is commonly used for flood release in hydraulic projects. Its conventional design features horizontal step surfaces. Designed for certain flow rates, it does not function satisfactorily at larger discharges. To improve this, layouts with inclined step surfaces, both downward and upward, are proposed. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling in 3D is performed to examine and compare their flow properties in the skimming flow. The results suggest that a shift from a downward to an upward layout leads to a gradual decrease in the flow velocity at the chute end; the latter exhibit higher energy dissipation efficiency. Moreover, equations are developed to estimate the velocity and energy loss. The flow velocity in the developing zone, described by a power law, shows a decline with an increase in the angle of inclination. The downward layout is subjected to somewhat higher risk of cavitation if implemented in a prototype. The extreme pressure loads acting upon an upward layout are larger, and a correlation is proposed for its prediction. On an inclined surface, either upward or downward, the pressure demonstrates an S-shaped distribution. On a vertical surface, the flow pressure increases, after an initial decline over a short distance, towards the chute bottom.
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spelling doaj.art-6ce29febe3c54f22bd6d3eb1aaf3088e2023-11-20T12:49:16ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172020-09-011018620210.3390/app10186202Effects of Inclination Angles on Stepped Chute FlowsShicheng Li0James Yang1Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 10044 Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 10044 Stockholm, SwedenOwing to its effective energy dissipation and aeration, a stepped spillway is commonly used for flood release in hydraulic projects. Its conventional design features horizontal step surfaces. Designed for certain flow rates, it does not function satisfactorily at larger discharges. To improve this, layouts with inclined step surfaces, both downward and upward, are proposed. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling in 3D is performed to examine and compare their flow properties in the skimming flow. The results suggest that a shift from a downward to an upward layout leads to a gradual decrease in the flow velocity at the chute end; the latter exhibit higher energy dissipation efficiency. Moreover, equations are developed to estimate the velocity and energy loss. The flow velocity in the developing zone, described by a power law, shows a decline with an increase in the angle of inclination. The downward layout is subjected to somewhat higher risk of cavitation if implemented in a prototype. The extreme pressure loads acting upon an upward layout are larger, and a correlation is proposed for its prediction. On an inclined surface, either upward or downward, the pressure demonstrates an S-shaped distribution. On a vertical surface, the flow pressure increases, after an initial decline over a short distance, towards the chute bottom.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/18/6202stepped chuteinclined stepcavitationenergy lossCFD
spellingShingle Shicheng Li
James Yang
Effects of Inclination Angles on Stepped Chute Flows
Applied Sciences
stepped chute
inclined step
cavitation
energy loss
CFD
title Effects of Inclination Angles on Stepped Chute Flows
title_full Effects of Inclination Angles on Stepped Chute Flows
title_fullStr Effects of Inclination Angles on Stepped Chute Flows
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Inclination Angles on Stepped Chute Flows
title_short Effects of Inclination Angles on Stepped Chute Flows
title_sort effects of inclination angles on stepped chute flows
topic stepped chute
inclined step
cavitation
energy loss
CFD
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/18/6202
work_keys_str_mv AT shichengli effectsofinclinationanglesonsteppedchuteflows
AT jamesyang effectsofinclinationanglesonsteppedchuteflows