Scouring of a granular bed by dam break: Experimental study and numerical simulation by a VOF-LPT coupling.

The first part of the research reported here consists of an experimental campaign to study the scouring of a granular bed (glass beads, sand) induced by a dam break in an open channel. Two configurations are considered: with and without cylinders. In the second part of this study, the volume of fluid method coupled with the shear stress transport turbulent model and the lagrangian particle tracking method is used to simulate the local scour processes. The four-way coupling is realized by considering the drag force and collisions between particles. Using a vortex map and velocity profiles, the flow dynamics and scour pattern can be studied. The current research also focuses on the profiles of the erodible particle bed and the sediment transport rate to study the effects of a cylinder on local scour. The presence of the cylinder increases the experimental erosion depth by up to 42%. It was found that for relatively close particle diameters (2 and 3 mm), a granular bed with larger porosity (larger diameter) erodes the most. Experimentally and numerically it was found that the center of the granular bed experiences more erosion compared to the channel sides. In the last part of the research, comparisons between the numerical results and the experimental data allowed risk areas to be identified and the roles of porosity, sediment density, and flow dynamics on erosion to be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]