Hydraulic Modeling
• Physical Modeling- Design of Physical Models
• Numerical Modeling in Open Channel Flow
Physical Modeling- Design of Physical Models
• Many engineering projects involve constructing of hydraulic structures:
dams and spillways. We have to know how these structures behave in
real situation. Modeling is carried out to have pre-information on their
behavior.
• In the study of hydraulics, models are, thus, frequently used for testing
and development purposes in laboratories before a full scale prototype is
built. The model can be either smaller than the prototype (e.g., design of
dam) or larger than the prototype (e.g., study of interaction between red
blood cells and the vessel wall). However, in hydraulics and
sedimentological study, models are generally smaller than the prototype.
• Types of Model: Physical and Mathematical
Model
A model is a representation of the physical system that can be
used to predict the behavior of a prototype in some respect
In order to yield useful information from the model being
tested, the model and prototype should fulfill the
requirement of geometric, kinematic and dynamic similitude.
Principles of Similitude: Physical behavior of the model
should simulate the manner of the behavior of the prototype
– data from the model can be used to predict
response of the prototype
Similitude
• Geometric Similitude
The first requirement: The model and prototype should to be
geometrically similar.
– The model and prototype should have the same shape, and
their dimensions should be scaled proportionally.
– Their orientation and surface roughness should also have the
same scale.
• Kinematic Similitude
To obtain useful information from the model testing, the second
requirement is for the model and prototype to be kinematically
similar.
– The flow conditions should be the same. i.e. , the velocities
and accelerations at corresponding points should have the
same directions and scaled magnitudes.
Note: If kinematically similar, then exists geometric similararilty.
Similitude
• Dynamic Similitude
In order to achieve dynamic similitude, all
forces (e.g., pressure, shear, viscous, and
surface tension forces) at corresponding points
of the model and prototype should have the
same directions and scaled magnitudes.
• Note: Model and prototype that are
dynamically similar are both geometrically and
kinematically similar.
Geometric Similarity
• Geometric similarity exists between model
and prototype if the ratio of all corresponding
dimensions in the model and prototype are
equal. Such a ratio is termed as scale ratio.
Let l L is the scale factor for length.
Length Scale Ratio Area Scale Ratio
Kinematic Similarity
• Kinematic similarity is the similarity of time as
well as geometry. It exists between model and
prototype, if
– the paths of moving particles are geometrically
similar
– the ratios of the velocities of particles are similar
Some Important Ratios
• Velocity Scale Ratio
• Acceleration Scale Ratio
• Discharge Scale Ratio
• Time Scale Ratio
lT
Dynamic Similarity
• Dynamic similarity exists between
geometrically and kinematically similar
systems if the ratios of all forces in the model
and prototype are the same.
• Force ratio:
• Important ratios of forces: Re, Fr, Ma, We
Reynolds Number (Re)
• The Reynolds number perhaps is the most common
dimensionless parameter used in fluid mechanics. Physically, Re
represents the ratio of the inertial force to the viscous force. A
small Reynolds number implies that the viscous effects are
important, while the inertial effects are dominant when the
Reynolds number is large.
• The Reynolds number is commonly used to characterize if a flow
in a pipe is laminar or turbulent. The flow is generally assumed to
be laminar when Re < 2,000, and turbulent when Re > 4,000. The
flow is referred to as transition flow when the Reynolds number is
between 2,000 and 4,000.
Froude Number (Fr)
• The Froude number is an important dimensionless parameter
in the study of open-channel flow.
• Physically, the Froude number represents the ratio of inertial
forces to gravitational forces. As discussed in the
open-channel sections, open-channel flow can be classified
according to the Froude number in the following manner:
(a) Fr < 1: subcritical (tranquil) flow
(b) Fr = 1: critical flow
(c) Fr > 1: supercritical (rapid) flow
Types of Model
• Undistorted Model
– Geometric similarity is strictly followed
• Distorted Model
– One or more terms of the model are not identical
with their counter part in the prototype i.e.
distorted model where the vertical scale and
horizontal scale ratios do not have same value
– Choose smaller vertical scale ratio or Xr > Yr
Geometric distortion in river models
• When river models are to be built, considerable problems
must be addressed. It is very difficult to choose a suitable
scale for the model and to keep geometric similarity. e.g.
• accurate depths and depth changes become very difficult to
measure;
• the bed roughness of the channel becomes impracticably
small;
• laminar flow may result - (turbulent flow is normal in river
hydraulics.)
Solution
The solution often adopted to overcome these
problems is to abandon strict geometric
similarity by having different scales in the
horizontal and the vertical. Typical scales are
1/100 in the vertical and between 1/200 and
1/500 in the horizontal. Good overall flow
patterns and discharge characteristics can be
produced by this technique, however local
detail of flow is not well modeled.
Numerical Modeling: Components
• Components:
– Flow domain:
– Governing Equations of Flows
– Initial Conditions:
– Boundary Conditions:
– Parameters’ values
– Method of solution
Governing Equations: Sediment Transport
– Continuity Equation
– Momentum Equation
Data Required
• Spatial Data
– Channel length with bed slope
– Channel geometry
– Flow values or flow depths at the start as initial conditions
– Sediment data (concentration)
• Temporal data:
– Inflow hydrograph or flow depth or both, or rainfall values as
boundary conditions
– Sediment at the boundary
• Parameters values e.g. Manning’s n, Critical tractive force
etc.
Method of Solutions
• Analytical
– Solved by integrating partial differential equations
– Applicable to only a few special simple cases of kinematic
waves
• Numerical
– Finite difference approximation or Finite element
approximations
– Calculations are performed on a grid placed over the (x,t)
plane
– Flow and water surface elevation are obtained for
incremental time and distances along the channel
Different methods for solution
• Explicit method
• Implicit method
• Crank Nicolson Method