Author(s): S. B. W. Eerakoon; Yoshihisa Kawahara; Nobuyuki Tamai
Linked Author(s): Nobuyuki Tamai, Yoshihisa Kawahara
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Three-dimensional flow structure in a channel confluence has been investigated by both laboratory experiment and an elliptic computational model. The experimental measurements of two components of velocity at different levels and flow visualization results exhibit the physical processes and also provide data for the judgment of the three-dimensional elliptic model. The computational model developed in generalized coordinates incorporating the standard k-ε turbulence model has predicted the flow satisfactorily and elaborated the flow features in detail. The existence of two counter rotating secondary flow cells, namely a stronger secondary flow in the branch channel side and weaker secondary flow cell in the main channel side, are shown. A recirculation zone is formed folowing the steep pressure gradient at the corner. The size of recirculation zone becomes smaller toward depthwise direction owing to the secondary flow. Flow is also separated at the upstream corner due to the adverse pressure gradient.
Year: 1991