Uniform Flow Development Length in a Rough Laboratory Flume

Author

Sanjib Sharma, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

5-1-2015

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Civil Engineering

First Advisor

Wilkerson, Gregory

Abstract

Test sections in laboratory studies should be fully developed and uniform if they are to be generalized. The objective of this study is to develop a model for predicting the uniform flow development length (Lunif) in a rough laboratory flume as a function of hydraulic parameters and bed particle roughness height (ks). Using an ADV time-averaged point velocity was measured in developing and fully developed turbulent subcritical rough open-channel flows. A series of laboratory tests were carried out in a 6.1-m-long and 0.46-m-wide rectangular channel. Tests were conducted with fine gravel (d50 = 5.8 mm, ks = 3.1d90 = 0.026 m), medium gravel (d50 = 14 mm, ks = 0.068 m), and with fine /medium gravel (d50 = 11 mm, ks = 0.04 m). For each test, longitudinal point velocity measurements were made along the center of the channel at five elevations, and at thirteen longitudinal stations. The study concluded that for flow to be uniform, the flow depth and mean cross-sectional velocity must be constant. In addition, root mean square of the fluctuating component of the velocity, RMS(u'), which is the measure of the turbulence intensity, should be uniform in order for a flow to consider uniform. Thus, RMS(u') is one of the indicative measures for determining the location where the developing flow is fully developed and uniform. The results showed that increasing the bed roughness height decreases the uniform flow development length. Using the dimensional and statistical analyses Lunif was estimated as a linear function of Reynold's particle number and Froude number.