3D model for prediction of flow profiles around bridges

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics models have become well established as tools for simulating free surface flow over a wide range of structures. This study is an assessment and comparison of the performance of a commercially available three-dimensional numerical software, which solves the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations, to predict the free surface profiles from up- to downstream of four different bridge types with and without piers in a compound channel. The model results were compared with the available experimental data. Comparisons indicate that the model provides a reasonably good description of free surface profiles under both gradually and rapidly varied flow conditions in the bridge vicinity, respectively.

Keywords:

• Bridge
• compound channel
• FLOW-3D
• free surface profile
• numerical modelling