Prediction of turbulence energy dissipation in flexible apron of barrages using numerical method

Abstract

SUMMARY Barrages form an important component of hydraulic structures constructed to intercept and divert part of the available flow of a river and use it for purposes like irrigation, hydropower and domestic or industrial water supply. A flexible apron is a protection system provided in the barrage to prevent the possibility of the scour hole traveling close to the stilling basin. The turbulence kinetic energy is predicted using a 3D VOF (volume of fluid) realizable k −ϵ model for both horizontal and depressed flexible aprons placed downstream of the stilling basin of the barrage. The turbulence kinetic energy at the downstream end of the inclined flexible apron is comparably less compared with the horizontal flexible apron for all the cases. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.