Zonation of Positively Buoyant Jets Interacting with the Water-Free Surface Quantified by Physical and Numerical Modelling

Abstract

The evolution of positively buoyant jets was studied with non-intrusive techniques—Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Laser Induce Fluorescence (LIF)—by analyzing four physical tests in their four characteristic zones: momentum dominant zone (jet-like), momentum to buoyancy transition zone (jet to plume), buoyancy dominant zone (plume-like), and lateral dispersion dominant zone. Four configurations were tested modifying the momentum and the buoyancy of the effluent through variations of flow discharge and the thermal gradient with the receiving water body, respectively. The physical model results were used to evaluate the performance of numerical models to describe such flows. Furthermore, a new method to delimitate the four characteristic zones of positively buoyant jets interacting with the water-free surface was proposed using the angle (α) shaped by the tangent of the centerline trajectory and the longitudinal axis. Physical model results showed that the dispersion of mass (concentrations) was always greater than the dispersion of energy (velocity) during the evolution of positively buoyant jets. The semiempirical models (CORJET and VISJET) underestimated the trajectory and overestimated the dilution of positively buoyant jets close to the impact zone with the water-free surface. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model (Open Field Operation And Manipulation model (OpenFOAM)) is able to reproduce the behavior of positively buoyant jets for all the proposed zones according to the physical results.

Numerical Analysis of Bearing Capacity in Deep Excavation Support Structures: A Comparative Study of Nailing Systems and Helical Anchors

“…Another study by J García-Alba evaluates numerical models' performance in describing flows of positively buoyant jets. While it does not directly mention the comparison of horizontal displacements, it indicates the use of numerical models to simulate physical phenomena [37]. In a study by MA Bouarroudj, the differences between numerical and experimental results in singlestrut models are discussed.…”

Editorial—Physical Modelling in Hydraulics Engineering

“…The development of traditional [11] and novel [12,13] modelling approaches in river engineering are also covered in the Special Issue. Furthermore, contributions in the field of coastal structures and port engineering [14,15], offshore structures [16], and the environmental design of brine discharges [17] are presented in the Special Issue. Other topics covered in the Special Issue are related with pressurized pipe distribution [18][19][20] and urban drainage [21][22][23] systems.…”

“…The editor's choice article "Zonation of Positively Buoyant Jets Interacting with the Water-Free Surface Quantified by Physical and Numerical Modelling" [17] presents the evolution of positively buoyant jets with non-intrusive techniques-particle image velocimetry (PIV) and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF)-by analyzing four physical tests in their four characteristic zones,: the momentum dominant zone (jet-like), momentum to buoyancy transition zone (jet to plume), buoyancy dominant zone (plume-like), and lateral dispersion dominant zone. The physical model results were used to evaluate the performance of different numerical models.…”