The evaluation of the maximum instantaneous uplift force produced by turbulent pressure fluctuations plays a key role in designing concrete slab protection in spillway chutes and stilling basins. Recent incidents involving damage to chute linings have highlighted the significance of this issue. To evaluate the stability of spillway stilling basin slabs, it is necessary to determine the statistical structure of the turbulent pressure fluctuations in the spillway chute and stilling basin. This can be defined by an extensive experimental work with a scale Physical Hydraulic Model (PHM). This exercise can be prohibitively expensive in terms of time and cost and it is proposed that the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in this application could become a cost effective alternative. A new approach using Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) was applied to the case of a scale physical hydraulic model representing a real-world prototype and the results of the simulation were compared with the direct laboratory measurements. Here the forces and pressures acting on the slabs are evaluated using both CFD and physical hydraulic modelling results. In conclusion, some considerations on the design of slabs with unsealed joints are reported and discussed.
$15.00
ANCOLD is an incorporated voluntary association of organisations and individual professionals with an interest in dams in Australia.