Low-Velocity Zone in Smooth Pipe Culvert with and without Streamwise Rib for Fish Passage
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 146, Issue 9
Abstract
Unimpeded waterway connectivity is a requirement for all freshwater fish. While box culverts are considered the most effective design in terms of upstream fish passage, circular culverts are very common. Detailed hydrodynamic measurements were undertaken under controlled conditions in a near-full-scale smooth pipe culvert operating at less-than-design flows. Two configurations were tested: a smooth semicircular channel and a circular channel equipped with a small streamwise rib placed asymmetrically. For all investigated flow conditions, the channel flow was subcritical and corresponded to less-than-design conditions. Detailed measurements showed high velocities through the entire cross-section, with no obvious low-velocity region along the smooth wetted perimeter. The presence of an asymmetrical streamwise rib induced the formation of a small well-defined low-velocity zone (LVZ) in the vicinity of the rib. The flow resistance was slightly larger than that in a rectangular channel, for identical boundary roughness and flow conditions. The streamwise rib had a limited impact on the flow resistance, although large transverse gradient in skin friction shear stress, conducive of secondary currents, were observed. While the low-velocity zone size relevant to the upstream passage of small fish was smaller in the smooth circular channel than in a comparable rectangular channel, the introduction of the asymmetrical streamwise rib might create preferential swimming paths for small-bodied fish and juveniles of larger fish. The present physical results may serve as a validation data set for future computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, to assist with the development of more efficient designs.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. These include the tabular data corresponding to the data presented in Figs. 4–8(a). Further information is reported in Chanson (2019a).
Acknowledgments
The author thanks his students Thomas Ward and Max Van Heeckeren who performed the experimental measurements, and Dr Xinqian (Sophia) Leng for her input into the project and her commentaries. He further thanks the anonymous reviewers for the constructive nature of their review comments. He acknowledges the technical assistance of Jason Van Der Gevel and Stewart Matthews (The University of Queensland). The financial support through the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMTHF1805) and the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Queensland is acknowledged.
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Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 146 • Issue 9 • September 2020
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©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 9, 2019
Accepted: Apr 8, 2020
Published online: Jun 17, 2020
Published in print: Sep 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Nov 17, 2020
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