Generic Free-Flow Rating for Cutthroat Flumes
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 7
Abstract
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software was used to generate water depth and discharge data for 51 Cutthroat flume sizes, including all 24 standard sizes published by the flume’s developer and 27 intermediate sizes. The hydraulic model was validated by using data from several sources, including physical model testing for 15 standard sizes and three intermediate sizes. Grid-size independence was also confirmed for a range of computational cell sizes and the calibration results for 15 standard flume sizes were compared with previously published calibration parameters. Through the validated CFD simulations, a full set of calibration and validation data was generated for each of 51 flume sizes, filling the gaps in the experimental data and permitting a full analysis of the performance of the flume. The study resulted in a generic calibration for free-flow conditions for any Cutthroat flume in the dimensional range of the 24 standard sizes and specified dimensional ratios according to the original design criteria. The error in the predicted discharge for all flume sizes is less than 3% of the full-scale discharge.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Ackers, P., White, W. R., Perkins, J. A., and Harrison, A. J. M. (1978). Weirs and flumes for flow measurement, Wiley, New York.
Aukle, D. A. (1983). “Free flow discharge characteristics of throatless flumes.” M.Eng. thesis, Concordia Univ., Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Bombardelli, F. A., Meireles, I., and Matos, J. (2011). “Laboratory measurements and multi-block numerical simulations of the mean flow and turbulence in the non-aerated skimming flow region of steep stepped spillways.” Environ. Fluid Mech., 11(3), 263–288.
Chanel, P. G., and Doering, J. C. (2008). “Assessment of spillway modeling using computational fluid dynamics.” Can. J. Civ. Eng., 35(12), 1481–1485.
Dargahi, B. (2010). “Flow characteristics of bottom outlets with moving gates.” J. Hydraul. Res., 48(4), 476–482.
FLOW-3D [Computer software]. Santa Fe, NM, Flow Science, Inc.
Haun, S., Olsen, N. R. B., and Feurich, R. (2011). “Numerical modeling of flow over trapezoidal broad-crested weir.” Eng. Appl. Comp. Fluid Mech., 5(3), 397–405.
Heiner, B. J., and Barfuss, S. L. (2011). “Parshall flume discharge corrections wall staff gauge and centerline measurements.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 137(12), 779–792.
Hirt, C. W., and Williams, K. A. (1994). “Flow-3D predictions for free discharge and submerged Parshall flume.”, Flow Science, Inc., Santa Fe, NM.
Ho, D. K. H., and Riddette, K. M. (2010). “Application of computational fluid dynamics to evaluate hydraulic performance of spillways in Australia.” Aust. J. Civ. Eng., 6(1), 81–104.
Jacobsen, J., and Olsen, N. R. B. (2010). “Numerical modelling of the capacity for a complex spillway.” Water Manage., 163(6), 283–288.
Keller, R. J. (1984). “Cut-throat flume characteristics.” J. Hydraul. Eng., 110(9), 1248–1263.
Kim, D. G. (2007). “Numerical analysis of free flow past a sluice gate.” J. Civ. Eng., 11(2), 127–132.
Kim, S. D., Lee, H. L., and An, S. D. (2010). “Improvement of hydraulic stability for spillway using CFD model.” Int. J. Phys. Sci., 5(6), 774–780.
Manekar, V. L., Prakash, D. P., and Ingle, R. N. (2007). “Discharge relation for Cutthroat flume under free-flow condition.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 133(5), 495–499.
Ramamurthy, A. S., Rao, M. V. J., and Auckle, D. (1985). “Free flow discharge characteristics of throatless flumes.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 111(1), 65–75.
Ramamurthy, A. S., and Tadayon, R. (2008). “Numerical simulation of flows in Cut-throat flumes.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 134(6), 857–860.
Ren, L. (1993). “Analysis of Cutthroat flume discharge ratings.” M.S. thesis, Dept. of Biological and Irrigation Engineering, Utah State Univ., Logan, UT.
Rodi, W. (1980). Turbulence models and their application in hydraulics—A state of the art review, International Association for Hydraulic Research, Delft, The Netherlands.
Savage, B. M., and Johnson, M. C. (2001). “Flow over ogee spillway: Physical and numerical model case study.” J. Hydraul. Eng., 127(8), 640–649.
Savage, B. M., and Johnson, M. C. (2006). “Physical and numerical comparison of flow over ogee spillway in the presence of tailwater.” J. Hydraul. Eng., 132(12), 1353–1357.
Skogerboe, G. V., Bennett, R. S., and Walker, W. R. (1972). “Generalized discharge relation for Cut-throat flumes.” J. Irrig. Drain. Div., 98(IR4), 569–583.
Skogerboe, G. V., and Hyatt, M. L. (1967). “Rectangular Cut-throat flow measuring flumes.” J. Irrig. Drain. Div., 93(IR4), 1–13.
Skogerboe, G. V., Ren, L., and Yang, D. (1993). Cutthroat flume discharge ratings, size selection and installation, International Irrigation Center, Utah State Univ., Logan, UT.
TableCurve 3D version 4 for Windows [Computer software]. Richmond, CA, Systat.
Torres, A. F. (2006). “Transition submergence and hysteresis effects in three-foot Cutthroat flumes.” M.S. thesis, Dept. of Biological and Irrigation Engineering, Utah State Univ., Logan, UT.
Torres, A. F., and Merkley, G. P. (2008). “Cutthroat measurement flume calibration for free and submerged flow using a single equation.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 134(4), 521–526.
United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR). (2001). Water measurement manual, 3rd Ed., US Government Printing, Denver, CO.
Weber, R. C., Merkley, G. P., Skogerboe, G. V., and Torres, A. F. (2007). “Improved calibration of Cutthroat flumes.” Irrig. Sci., 25(4), 361–373.
Willeitner, R. P. (2010). “Effects of submergence in Montana flumes.” M.S. thesis, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Utah State Univ., Logan, UT.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 7 • July 2013
Pages: 727 - 735
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 11, 2012
Accepted: Jan 2, 2013
Published online: Jan 4, 2013
Published in print: Jul 1, 2013
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.