3D Numerical modeling of flow over an artificial gravel bed

Abstract

The understanding of flow structures over static armor layers is essential for the development of modern sediment transport models, including functions for the influence of particle hiding and exposure. Coherent turbulent flow structures affect the incipient motion of single particles in a way that is still difficult to estimate. Furthermore, they can cause suspension of fine sediments that deposit elsewhere. With increasing computational power it has become more and more popular to use commercial computational fluid dynamic (CFD) codes in the field of hydraulic engineering. These models must be tested and verified on data from physical model studies, before they are used for general-purpose studies. The goal of the present study is therefore, to look into the possibility to use the commercial CFD code StarCCM+ to simulate the flow over an artificial gravel bed. The data taken to compare the results with are from a physical model test conducted by Spiller et al. (2013). PIV measurements were taken in a laboratory flume. This flume will be modelled with StarCCM+ in order to see whether it can reproduce the general flow characteristics. Refereces:Spiller, S.; Ruther, N.; Baumann, B. (2013), PIV Measurements of Steady Flow over an Artificial Static Armor Layer, Proceedings of the 35th IAHR World Congress.