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ALDEN
30 Shrewsbury Street
Holden, MA 01520-1843 USA
phone: +1 508-829-6000
fax: +1 508-829-5939
e-mail: info@aldenlab.com
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News
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CFD Model Verifies 30-Year-Old Physical Model Results
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Jan 1, 2005 -
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American Electric Power (AEP) is reviewing the hydraulic performance of the Smith Mountain Dam spillways for overtopping flow during the probable maximum flood (PMF). The principal interest is the trajectory of the flow and where it impacts in the spillway catch chute. In 1960, when the project was conceived, Alden conducted a 1:60 scale physical model study of spillway flows up to 50,000 cfs, the computed design flow at that time.
The probable maximum flood for Smith Mountain Dam was recently computed to be 118,700 cfs, significantly greater than 50,000 cfs design flow. The 1960 physical model results did not provide data for flows over 50,000 cfs; therefore, AEP decided to conduct an updated study using computational methods, to determine spillway performance and water trajectory under the increased flow scenario.
A 3-D CFD model of a portion of the lake and the project's dam and two spillways was developed using FLOW-3D®. Model geometry was based on as-built construction drawings and pre-construction topological surveys. The computational grid used about 13,000,000 computational cells. For validation, the results of the CFD model were compared to results of the 1960 model study. Comparisons included the stage discharge rating curve and a visual comparison of the free falling water with photographs from the physical model.
FLOW-3D® was successful in simulating the flow over the two spillways at Smith Mountain Dam. Where validation was possible, CFD results closely matched the observations made in the physical model. The computed trajectory of the free falling jet and the point of impact on the catch chute was found to be consistent with physical model results. The model was then used to predict the trajectory of the free falling jet during the PMF. |
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