Application of Three-Dimensional CFD VOF to Characterize Free-Surface Flow over Trapezoidal Labyrinth Weir and Spillway
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 147, Issue 3
Abstract
The current literature for labyrinth weirs suggests that little attention has been paid to the complex free-surface flows generated downstream of these structures. In particular, there is no available guidance on the most appropriate model implementations to reproduce these flows numerically. This study presents new insights into the three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of the free-surface flow over a labyrinth weir and spillway. The volume of fluid (VOF) model is implemented in both the OpenFOAM and ANSYS Fluent version 17.2 solvers to simulate four flow rates over a scale Froude number physical model. The results reveal the VOF method with the standard turbulence model and the piecewise linear interface construction algorithm is capable of well characterizing the complex flow behavior and features and provides appropriate predictions of velocities and depths. The model is also able to adequately estimate the labyrinth weir rating curve and the flow situation for various levels of tailwater in the spillway channel. The numerical predictions from the two solvers present greater consistency for the low flow rates. The increased discrepancies occurring for the largest flow rates are attributed to the different sensitivity to the mesh cell size as well as to the interface capturing schemes utilized.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code used during the study were provided by a third party (these include the experimental data collected from the physical model). Direct requests for these materials may be made to the provider as indicated in the “Acknowledgments.”
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request (these include the numerical modeling results).
Acknowledgments
This work has been supported by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in conjunction with Ove Arup & Partners, Ltd.
References
ANSYS. 2017. “ANSYS Fluent [online].” Accessed August 7, 2017. http://www.ansys.com/Products/Fluids/ANSYS-Fluent.
Aydin, M. C., and A. E. Ulu. 2017. “Antivortex effects on two-cycle trapezoidal labyrinth side weirs.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. 143 (7): 06017004. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0001182.
Bayon, A., D. Valero, R. García-Bartual, F. J. Vallés-Morán, and P. A. López-Jiménez. 2016. “Performance assessment of OpenFOAM and FLOW-3D in the numerical modeling of a low Reynolds number hydraulic jump.” Environ. Modell. Software 80 (Jun): 322–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.02.018.
Bilhan, O., M. C. Aydin, M. E. Emiroglu, and C. J. Miller. 2018. “Experimental and CFD analysis of circular labyrinth weirs.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. 144 (6): 04018007. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0001301.
Blancher, B., F. Montarros, and F. Laugier. 2011. “Hydraulic comparison between piano key weirs and labyrinth spillways.” In Proc., Labyrinth and piano key weirs—PKW 2011. London: Taylor & Francis Group.
Brinded, P., R. Gilbert, P. Kelham, and A. Peters. 2014. “Eller beck flood storage reservoir—The challenges of low impact flood storage design.” In Proc., 18th Biennial Conf. of the British Dam Society at Queen’s University, Belfast. London: Institution of Civil Engineers Publishing.
Celik, I. B., U. Ghia, P. J. Roache, C. J. Freitas, H. Coleman, and P. E. Raad. 2008. “Procedure for estimation and reporting of uncertainty due to discretization in CFD applications.” J. Fluids Eng. 130 (7): 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2960953.
Crookston, B. M. 2010. “Labyrinth weirs.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Utah State Univ.
Crookston, B. M., G. S. Paxson, and B. M. Savage. 2012. “Hydraulic performance of labyrinth weirs for high headwater ratios.” In Proc., 4th IAHR Int. Symp. on Hydraulic Structures, edited by J. Matos, S. Pafliara, and I. Meireles. Beijing: International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research.
Crookston, B. M., and B. P. Tullis. 2012a. “Arced labyrinth weirs.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 138 (6): 555–562. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0000553.
Crookston, B. M., and B. P. Tullis. 2012b. “Discharge efficiency of reservoir-application-specific labyrinth weirs.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. 138 (6): 564–568. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000451.
Crookston, B. M., and B. P. Tullis. 2013a. “Hydraulic design and analysis of labyrinth weirs. I: Discharge relationships.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. 139 (5): 363–370. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000558.
Crookston, B. M., and B. P. Tullis. 2013b. “Hydraulic design and analysis of labyrinth weirs. II: Nappe aeration, instability, and vibration.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. 139 (5): 371–377. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000553.
Ebner, L., S. Askelson, E. Thompson, and N. Cox. 2016. “Numerical modelling of the spillways for the dam raise at Isabella dam.” In Proc., 6th IAHR Int. Symp. on Hydraulic Structures and Water System Management. Logan, UT: Utah State Univ.
Erpicum, S., F. Laugier, M. H. T. Khanh, and M. Pfister. 2017. “Labyrinth and piano key weirs III PKW 2017.” In Proc., Int. Workshop on Labyrinth and Piano Key Weirs. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Erpicum, S., A. Silvestri, B. Dewals, P. Archambeau, and M. Pirotton. 2013. “Escouloubre piano key weir: Prototype versus scale models.” In Proc., 2nd Int. Workshop on Labyrinth and Piano Key Weirs. London: Taylor & Francis Group.
Falvey, H. T. 2003. Hydraulic design of labyrinth weirs. Reston, VA: ASCE Press.
Hager, W. H., M. Pfister, and B. Tullis. 2015. “Labyrinth weirs development until 1985.” In Proc., 36th IAHR World Congress. Beijing: International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research.
Hay, N., and G. Taylor. 1970. “Performance and design of labyrinth weirs.” J. Hydraul. Div. 96 (11): 2337–2357.
Hinchliff, D. L., and K. L. Houston. 1984. “Hydraulic design and application of labyrinth spillways.” In Proc., USCOLD Lecture Dam Safety and Rehabilitation. Westminster, CO: United States Committee on Large Dams.
Hirt, C. W., and B. D. Nichols. 1981. “VOF method for the dynamics of free boundaries.” J. Comput. Phys. 39 (1): 201–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9991(81)90145-5.
Launder, B. E., and D. B. Spalding. 1974. “The numerical computation of turbulent flows.” Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 3 (2): 269–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/0045-7825(74)90029-2.
Lopes, R., J. Matos, and J. F. Melo. 2008. “Characteristic depths and energy dissipation downstream of a labyrinth weir.” In Proc., 2nd IJERW on Hydraulic Structures, edited by S. Pagliara. Pisa, Italy: Edizioni Plus.
Lopes, R., J. Matos, and J. F. Melo. 2011. “Flow properties and residual energy downstream of labyrinth weirs.” In Proc., Labyrinth and Piano Key Weirs—PKW 2011. London: Taylor & Francis Group.
Magalhães, A., and M. Lorena. 1989. Hydraulic design of labyrinth weirs. Lisbon, Portugal: National Laboratory of Civil Engineering.
Muzaferija, S., M. Peric, P. Sames, and T. Schelin. 1998. “A two-fluid Navier-stokes solver to simulate water entry.” In Proc., 22nd Symp. on Naval Hydrodynamics. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Novak, P., A. I. B. Moffat, C. Nalluri, and R. Narayanan. 2007. Hydraulic structures. 4th ed. London: Taylor & Francis.
OpenFOAM Foundation. 2017. “OpenFOAM v5 user guide [online].” Accessed December 15, 2020. https://cfd.direct/openfoam/user-guide.
Paxson, G., B. Crookston, B. Savage, B. Tullis, and F. Lux. 2008. The hydraulic design toolbox: Theory and modelling for the Lake Townsend spillway replacement project. Lexington, KY: Association of State Dam Safety Officials.
Pedersen, Ø., G. Fleit, E. Pummer, B. P. Tullis, and N. Rüther. 2018. “Reynolds-averaged Navier-stokes modeling of submerged ogee weirs.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. 144 (1): 04017059. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0001266.
Ribeiro, M. L., M. Pfister, and A. J. Schleiss. 2013. “Overview of piano key weir prototypes and scientific model investigations.” In Proc., Labyrinth and Piano Key Weirs II. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Richardson, L. F. 1910. “The approximate arithmetical solution by finite differences of physical problems involving differential equations, with an application to the stresses in a masonry dam.” Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. A 210: 307–357. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.1911.0009.
Richardson, L. F., and J. A. Gaunt. 1927. “The deferred approach to the limit.” Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. A 226: 299–361. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.1927.0008.
Savage, B., B. Crookston, and G. Paxson. 2016. “Physical and numerical modeling of large headwater ratios for a 15° labyrinth spillway.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 142 (11): 04016046. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001186.
Savage, B., K. Frizell, and J. Crowder. 2004. “Brains versus brawn: The changing world of hydraulic model studies.” In Proc., Dam Safety. Lexington, KY: Association of State Dam Safety Officials.
Thompson, E., N. Cox, L. Ebner, and B. Tullis. 2016. “The hydraulic design of an arced labyrinth weir at Isabella dam.” In Proc., 6th Int. Symp. on Hydraulic Structures. Logan, UT: Utah State Univ.
Torres, C. 2018. “Numerical modelling of hydraulic free surface flows and scale effects associated with physical modelling.” Ph.D. thesis, School of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Leeds.
Torres, C., D. Borman, A. Sleigh, and D. Neeve. 2017. “Three dimensional numerical modelling of full-scale hydraulic structures.” In Proc., 37th IAHR World Congress, 1335–1343. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research.
Tullis, B. P., J. C. Young, and M. A. Chandler. 2007. “Head-discharge relationships for submerged labyrinth weirs.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 133 (3): 248–254. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(2007)133:3(248).
Tullis, B. P., N. Young, and B. M. Crookston. 2017. “Physical modelling size-scale effects for labyrinth weirs with half-round crests.” In Proc., Labyrinth and Piano Key Weirs III. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Tullis, J. P., N. Amanian, and D. Waldron. 1995. “Design of labyrinth spillways.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 121 (3): 247–255. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(1995)121:3(247).
Ubbink, O., and R. I. Issa. 1999. “A method for capturing sharp fluid interfaces on arbitrary meshes.” J. Comput. Phys. 153 (1): 26–50. https://doi.org/10.1006/jcph.1999.6276.
Versteeg, H. K., and W. Malalasekera. 1995. An introduction to computational fluid dynamics: The finite volume method. Harlow, UK: Pearson Education.
Yakhot, V., and S. A. Orszag. 1986. “Renormalisation group analysis of turbulence. I: Basic theory.” J. Sci. Comput. 1 (1): 3–51. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01061452.
Yakhot, V., S. A. Orszag, S. Thangam, T. B. Gatski, and C. G. Speziale. 1992. Development of turbulence models for shear flows by a double expansion technique. Hampton, VA: Institute for Computer Applications in Science and Engineering.
Youngs, D. L. 1982. “Time dependent multi-material flow with large fluid distortion.” Numerical methods for fluid dynamics, edited by K. W. Morton, and M. J. Baines, 273–285. New York: Academic Press.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 147 • Issue 3 • March 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 2, 2019
Accepted: Sep 18, 2020
Published online: Jan 9, 2021
Published in print: Mar 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jun 9, 2021
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.