Authors : J. Mamizadeh and S.A. Ayyoubzadeh
Abstract: In order to examine the flow pattern in canal with sudden and gradual expansion, FLUENT software is used. In this case, 3-dimensional simulations are conducted. The turbulence model is used to simulate turbulence. Desired canal with coarse, medium and fine mesh size is selected for simulation. The results in canal with sudden expansion showed that the vortex formed by coarse mesh size and number of iteration >400 is a symmetric and for small and medium mesh size is symmetric. In order to analyze experimentally and numerically more closely, the pattern of flow in a flume with sudden and gradual expansion is investigated. Results showed that in 11.5° angle, the pattern of asymmetry in length and width of the canal is negligible but in 23.5° angle like the sudden expansion, the flow pattern is asymmetric. The asymmetrical flow pattern can be viewed with some minor changes such as roughness coefficient in river or reservoir geometry.
J. Mamizadeh and S.A. Ayyoubzadeh, 2012. Numerical and Experimental Simulation of Flow Pattern in Sudden and Gradual Canal Expansions. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 7: 389-394.