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Research papers

Sidewall and non-uniformity corrections for flume experiments

Pages 218-229 | Received 20 May 2014, Accepted 23 Sep 2014, Published online: 21 Nov 2014
 

ABSTRACT

Studying open channel flow and sediment transport in narrow flumes under non-uniform flow conditions, both sidewall and non-uniformity corrections are required for bed-shear stress. This research first reviews conventional predictive methods for bed-shear stress, including the flow-depth method, the hydraulic radius method and Einstein's sidewall correction. It then presents a novel procedure for sidewall and non-uniformity corrections based on a recent cross-sectional velocity distribution model. These methods are compared with data from the log-law under uniform and non-uniform, sub- and supercritical flow conditions, indicating that (i) the flow-depth and the hydraulic radius methods specify the upper and lower bounds for bed-shear stress; (ii) although Einstein's procedure causes a paradox for smooth flumes, it agrees with data from rough beds; and (iii) the proposed is better than Einstein's for subcritical flow, but the latter has advantage for supercritical flow. As an application, sediment inception under non-uniform flow conditions is also discussed.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the US FHWA Hydraulics R&D Program (Contract No. DTFH61-11D-00010) through the Genex System to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Notation

A=

= cross-sectional area (m2)

Ab, Aw=

= cross-sectional areas associated with bed and sidewalls, respectively (m2)

b=

= flume width (m)

D50=

= median diameter of sediment (m)

dh/dx=

= non-uniformity or pressure-gradient (–)

F=

= Froude number based on h (–)

F=

= functional symbol (–)

f=

= friction factor (-)

fw=

= sidewall friction factor (–)

g=

= gravity acceleration (m s−2)

h(x)=

= flow depth (m)

hc=

= critical flow depth (m)

ho=

= flow depth at x=0 (m)

ks=

= equivalent sand-grain roughness (m)

M, N=

= dummy variables (–)

=

= Manning's coefficients for bed and sidewalls, respectively (s m−1/3)

P=

= wetted perimeter (m)

Q=

= discharge (m3s−1)

R=

= Reynolds number based on 4R (–)

Rw=

= sidewall Reynolds number based on 4Rw (–)

R=

= hydraulic radius (m)

Rb, Rw=

= hydraulic radii for bed and sidewalls, respectively (m)

r2=

= coefficient of determination (–)

Sf=

= friction slope (–)

So=

= bottom slope (–)

T=

= temperature (°C)

u(y, z)=

= cross-sectional velocity distribution (m s−1)

=

= shear velocity based on R (m s−1)

=

= bed shear velocity based on h (m s−1)

=

= average bed-shear velocity (m s−1)

=

= centerline bed-shear velocity (m s−1)

=

= sidewall shear velocity distribution (m s−1)

=

= average sidewall shear velocity (m s−1)

V=

= cross-sectional average velocity (m s−1)

x, y, z=

= coordinates (m)

z0=

= zero-velocity position from bed (m)

α=

= parameter reflecting sidewall effect (–)

β=

= momentum correction factor (–)

γ=

= specific water weight (N m−3)

δ=

= velocity-dip position from bottom (m)

κ=

= von Karman constant (–)

λ=

= ratio of (–)

ν=

= kinematic water viscosity (m2s−1)

ρ=

= water density (kg m−3)

τb(y)=

= boundary shear distribution along bed

τw(z)=

= boundary shear distribution along sidewalls (Pa)

=

= average values of τb and τw, respectively (Pa)

τbc=

= centerline bed-shear stress (Pa)

τc=

= critical bed-shear stress for sediment initiation (Pa)

τ0=

= overall boundary shear stress based on R (Pa)

φ(y)=

= velocity distribution function in y-direction (–)

ψ(z)=

= velocity distribution function in z-direction (–)

=

= average values of φ(y) and ψ(z), respectively (–)

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