1. Numerical and Physical Modeling to Improve Discharge Rates in Open Channel Infrastructures
- Author
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Rick Jaeger, Katharina Tondera, Carolyn Jacobs, Mark Porter, and Neil Tindale
- Subjects
culvert ,culvert design ,culvert hydraulics ,culvert retrofitting ,discharge capacity ,inlet optimization ,ANSYS Fluent ,Hydraulic engineering ,TC1-978 ,Water supply for domestic and industrial purposes ,TD201-500 - Abstract
This paper presents the findings of a study into how different inlet designs for stormwater culverts increase the discharge rate. The objective of the study was to develop improved inlet designs that could be retro-fitted to existing stormwater culvert structures in order to increase discharge capacity and allow for changing rainfall patterns and severe weather events that are expected as a consequence of climate change. Three different chamfer angles and a rounded corner were simulated with the software ANSYS Fluent, each of the shapes tested in five different sizes. Rounded and 45 ∘ chamfers at the inlet edge performed best, significantly increasing the flow rate, though the size of the configurations was a critical factor. Inlet angles of 30 ∘ and 60 ∘ caused greater turbulence in the simulations than did 45 ∘ and the rounded corner. The best performing shape of the inlet, the rounded corner, was tested in an experimental flume. The flume flow experiment showed that the optimal inlet configuration, a rounded inlet (radius = 1/5 culvert width) improved the flow rate by up to 20% under submerged inlet control conditions.
- Published
- 2019
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