Reservoir Turbidity Current Modeling with a Two-Dimensional Layer-Averaged Model
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 141, Issue 12
Abstract
A two-dimensional layer-averaged model is developed and verified to simulate turbidity current characteristics and its sluicing in reservoirs. The governing equations consist of mass and momentum conservation laws for the turbidity current mixture, equations for the sediment transport and bed dynamics, and auxiliary relations for the interactions among clear water, turbidity current, and bed. A finite-volume, unstructured, polygonal mesh method is adopted so that reservoirs with complex terrains may be simulated. Special algorithms are developed to capture the turbidity current front movement through a clear water bed and to simulate turbidity current sluicing through reservoir outlets. The developed model has been tested and verified with both conservative and nonconservative turbidity currents ranging from simple to complex reservoir terrains. Case studies presented include a lock-exchange turbidity current with large eddy simulation and direct numerical simulation results, a laboratory test of turbidity currents, and a physical model of turbidity currents at Shihmen Reservoir in Taiwan. Comparisons of model results with available data show that the developed model, with appropriate calibration, reasonably predicts the turbidity current movement through reservoirs, the resultant sediment deposition along the reservoir bottom, and sediment sluicing through bottom outlets. The study also points to the need for future model improvements.
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Acknowledgments
The present work was funded by the Water Resources Agency of Taiwan through a collaborative agreement. The project liaison officer, Director Hung-Kwai Chen, and the project review committee in Taiwan have provided valuable technical comments. Peer review provided by Jennifer Bountry and Paula Makar at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the comments by the anonymous reviewers and the Chief and Associate Editors are greatly appreciated.
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Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 141 • Issue 12 • December 2015
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© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 28, 2014
Accepted: Mar 30, 2015
Published online: Jun 11, 2015
Discussion open until: Nov 11, 2015
Published in print: Dec 1, 2015
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