Experiments identifying scour-inducing flow patterns at a gated weir stilling basin

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

12-1-2010

Abstract

Excessive scour downstream of stilling basins poses significant risk of structural failure. This problem was experimentally investigated at Michigan Technological University in a Froude-scaled, physical model of one such structure operated by the South Florida Water Management District. Detailed flow measurements were taken on a flow scenario that resulted in high scour, namely that of a high flow rate and upstream headwater depth and a low tailwater depth. Equilibrium bed scour and velocity measurements were taken using an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter. Velocity data was used to construct a vector plot in order to identify which flow components contribute to the scour hole. It was found that downward-plunging flow upon leaving the stilling basin induces the primary scour hole. © 2010 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Publication Title

Geotechnical Special Publication

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