An Experimental Investigation of Energy Dissipation for Stepped Spillways with Different Flow Conditions

An Experimental Investigation of Energy Dissipation for Stepped Spillways with Different Flow Conditions

Hajer Hussein Albank* Saleh Issa Khassaf

Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Basrah, Basrah 00964, Iraq

Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Basrah, Basrah 00964, Iraq

Corresponding Author Email: 
hajerhusseinedu93@gmail.com
Page: 
340-346
|
DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.18280/mmep.100139
Received: 
9 November 2022
|
Revised: 
19 December 2022
|
Accepted: 
25 December 2022
|
Available online: 
28 February 2023
| Citation

© 2023 IIETA. This article is published by IIETA and is licensed under the CC BY 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

OPEN ACCESS

Abstract: 

The stepped spillway is the most effective hydraulic structure for dissipating energy downstream of the spillway crest. This paper investigates the energy dissipation rate on physical models of traditional steps at downstream angles (25˚, 35 ̊, 45 ̊) in which each angle was modelled with two different heights of steps (45, and 90 mm). Experimentation has been done for plain steps, and steps with end sill steps of a thickness of 15 mm. The results, which are supported by dimensional considerations, show that the critical depth of flow passing over the spillway to the step height yc/h, the number of steps N, and the slope of the stepped spillway are the parameters that affect energy dissipation. The results show also that the relative energy loss on pooling steps dissipates more energy than on flat steps by about 4.6%.

Keywords: 

flat stepped spillways, pooled stepped spillway, energy dissipation

1. Introduction

Stepped spillways have been used extensively in hydraulic engineering as energy dissipation facilities and show great potential due to achieving a better rate of energy dissipation while discharging extra floodwater [1]. Since the flow is supercritical and has a very great velocity and consequently erosive power. In order to avoid the risk of serious scouring of the downstream river bed and foundation damage, this energy should be dissipated. Stepped spillways enable the continuous dissipation of a significant portion of the flow kinetic energy, allowing for a significant reduction in the size of the downstream stilling basin, where the remaining energy is dissipated by hydraulic jump. Also, the cavitation risk along the spillway is greatly reduced, due to smaller flow velocities and the large air entertainment rate [2]. Many researchers have worked on flow conditions and energy loss in stepped spillways. A stepped spillway might have steps that are horizontal, inclined (upward or downward) or pooled steps. At low flow rates, nappe flow, transition flow at intermediate discharges, or skimming flow at higher flow rates could all represent the flow pattern for a given chute structure [3]. stepped spillways were shown to be more effective at dissipating flow energy than flat-sloping spillways. The ratio of flow energy dissipation increased as the number of steps and downstream slopes of the spillway were reduced [4].

A number of recent research have been performed on flat and polled stepped spillways [5-7].

Barani et al. studied energy dissipation of flow over stepped spillways of various step shapes. Different step shapes (plain steps, end sill steps with thicknesses of 1, 2, 3, and 4 cm, and steps with a bottom adverse slope of 45°, 36°, 26°, and 15°) have been the subject of the experiments. Overall, the hydraulic parameters of flow over the model were measured and the energy dissipation of flow was calculated. According to the results, flow on end sills and inclined stepped spillways wastes more energy than a plain one. This rise occurs when the end sill's thickness or the magnitude of the adverse slope is increased. The inclined type has dissipated more energy than the same end sill type, according to a comparison of the flow energy dissipation between end sill stepped spillways and inclined types [8]. Chinnarasri and Wongwises [9] noted that the rate of energy dissipation on the flat stepped chute was significantly lower than that on steps with end sills for chute slopes of 45 degrees. Hamedi et al. [10] investigated whether the energy loss rate of stepped spillways increases as a result of using end sills and inclined steps. Inclined steps with various slopes and end sills with various thicknesses, heights, and angles upward are used in this experiment to better understand their effects on relative energy loss. According to the results, utilizing incline steps with an end still has a significant impact on both nappe and skimming flows, however, nappe flows dissipate more energy than skimming flows. Salmasi and Abraham [11] examine the energy dissipation rate in spillways with various slopes. The Froude number and q2 /(gHdam3) were discovered to be the two most significant dimensionless factors controlling energy dissipation. The rate of energy dissipation is less affected by the spillway slope and step number. The energy dissipation will rise with increasing spillway slope and step number for constant discharge over a stepped spillway. The main objective of this paper is to study the relative energy loss and the factors that affect this energy loss the most. This paper also studies the enhancement that can be made on a spillway in order to increase the efficiency of energy dissipation without enlarging the structure size.

2. Methodology

The flume was carried out in the hydraulic engineering laboratory, At the University of Basra. All The tests were carried out in a rectangular flume of 78 cm * 80 cm cross-section and 10 meters long was used to execute all the tests. The flume walls are of plexiglass, the bed is made of painted steel. The flume's bed was kept on a horizontal slope as shown in Figure 1. The flume is divided into three sections, the first of which is an input tank.

Figure 1. Detailed drawing of a laboratory flume

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 2. a) Sketches of the experimented models of inclination 45 degree; b) Sketches of the experimented models of inclination 35 degree; c) Sketches of the experimented models of inclination 25 degree

The second section is the working section of the flume consisting of the sharp-crested rectangular weir (73.2) cm wide and (45) cm height used to measure flow discharge. Gravel and screens help dissipate the extra energy of flow by distributing the flow uniformly across the entire width of the flume. The screens act as wave breakers and provide a smooth water surface profile before the spillway. The third section of the flume is a reservoir that provides the water through a recirculating flume of the closed water system by a centrifugal pump of a maximum capacity of about 1,200 l\min attached to an electric motor. A point gauge was used to measure the depths of flow by placing the needle tip of the point gauge on the water surface and reading the level on the ruler. The water depth upstream varied between 10 mm and 45 mm above the crest level. The minimum and maximum discharges were 1.276 l/sec and 18.194 l/sec, respectively, at these water depths. Within the flume, spillway models were installed. Each spillway model was subjected to ten test runs. Usually, stepped spillways were built to dissipate more energy, which reduced downstream dangers and required smaller downstream stilling basins. Six different models were used in the experimental laboratory as shown in Figures 2(a), 2(b), and 2(c) the primary angles of the chutes are (25°, 35° and 45°). Each angle was modelled with different steps height (9cm, and 4.5 cm). Consequently, the overall height of each model is the same. Spillway width, and a crest length of (45 cm, 78 cm, and 65 cm), respectively.

The longitudinal flume slope is fixed at an inclination of 0 degrees. In the investigation, flat and pooling steps were tested in the study. To study the improvement of energy dissipation and choose the best extra accessories for steps. The used end sills are of height equal to step height. The thicknesses of end sills are 15 mm for the models having a number of steps of 5, and 10 steps. It attached the downstream of the horizontal face of all steps and of alternative steps. These pieces were made of wood with a smooth surface and they were painted with varnish.

The following laboratory technique is followed in all test runs on stepped spillway models:

- Getting the flow rate of the test run by adjusting the pumps’ control valve and measuring the water head above the sharp-crested weir [12].

- Measuring the water's sequent depth y2.

- Calculating the Froud number of the sequent depth (Fr2) using Eq. (1):

$F_r=\frac{v_2}{\sqrt{g y_2}}$     (1)

- Calculating the water's initial depth y1 by using Belanger’s formula:

$\mathrm{y}_1=\frac{y_2}{2}\left(\sqrt{1+8 F r_2^2}-1\right)$     (2)

the measured values are always smaller than the ones obtained using Belanger’s formula, Eq. (2) [13].

- Applying energy equations to determine the percentage of energy dissipated using Eqns. (3), (4), and (5) [14].

$\mathrm{E}_{\mathrm{o}}=1.5 \mathrm{y}_{\mathrm{c}}+\mathrm{H}_{\text {spillway }}$     (3)

$\mathrm{E}_1=\mathrm{y}_1+\frac{\mathrm{v}_1^2}{2\mathrm{~g}}$     (4)

$\frac{E_L}{E_0}=\frac{E_0-E_1}{E_0} \%$     (5)

where,

Eo=energy at the crest of the spillway, E1=energy at the beginning of the hydraulic jump.

yc=critical depth$\sqrt[3]{\frac{q^2}{g}}$, Hspillway=height of the spillway, V1=downstream velocity (m/sec).

g=acceleration due to gravity (m/s2).

$\frac{E_L}{E_o}$%=Relative energy dissipation between U/S and D/S of the stepped spillway. Details of energy lines are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Details of Energy lines (Source own elaboration)

Overall, 120 experiments with different flow rates and step shapes, and end sills steps have been carried out see Figure 4. The flow kinetic energy and the percentage of dissipated energy (EL/Eo%) was determined. The major goal of the current investigation is to determine how the geometry of the steps affect energy dissipation process.

Figure 4. Experimented models

2.1 Dimensional analysis for stepped spillway

Dimensional analyses have been used in this research to analyze the flow of water over the stepped spillway to obtain the important parameters studied in experimental work. Using Buckingham’s theory as a mathematical dimension analysis technique with non-dimensional Groups [15].

Table 1. Properties of the fluid, hydraulic flow, geometry and shape for stepped spillway

VARIABLE

MEANING

DIMENSION

FLUID PROPERTIES

ρ

The density of the fluid

ML-3

µ

Dynamic viscosity of the fluid

M L-1 T-1

FLOW CHARACTERISTICS

g

Gravitational acceleration

LT-2

y1

Downstream depth of flow

L

yc

Critical depth

L

GEOMETRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

N

Number of steps

-

hs

Step height

L

Ls

Step length

L

The first step to developing a correlation is to select parameters that influence the flow of energy dissipation. These parameters are listed in Table 1. This research focused on the input parameters to keep correlation as simple as possible. The energy dissipation of the stepped spillway is a function of:

$\mathrm{F}\left(\mathrm{E}_0, \mathrm{E}_{\mathrm{L}}, \rho, \mathrm{g}, \mu, \mathrm{q}, \mathrm{h}_{\mathrm{s}}, \mathrm{L}_{\mathrm{s}}, \mathrm{N}\right)=0$     (6)

Taking the common variables (ρ, g, hs) as repeating variables, Eq. (7) can be written from Buckingham -theorem:

$\mathrm{F}_1\left(\pi_1, \pi_2, \pi_3, \pi_4, \pi_5, \pi_6\right)=0$     (7)

where,                                               

π1=ρa1 gb1 hsc1 Eo                       

π2a2 gb2 hsc2 EL      

π3a3 gb3 hsc3 µ                         

πa4 gb4 hsc4 q      

πa5 gb5 hsc5 N         

πa6 gb6 hsc6 Ls

By taking each π term and expressing it in the dimensional form:

M0 L0 T0=[M L-3]a1 [LT-2]b1 [L]c1 [ L]

For M: a1=0

For L: -3a1 + b1 + c1 + 1=0

For T: -2b1=0

So π1=$\frac{E_o}{h_s}$

By the same way:

π2=$\frac{\mathrm{E}_{\mathrm{L}}}{\mathrm{h}_{\mathrm{s}}}$

π3=Re     

π=$\frac{q}{g^{1/2} \quad h_s^{3/2}}$ =$\frac{\mathrm{q}^2}{\mathrm{~g} \mathrm{hs}^3}$=$\frac{\mathrm{y}_{\mathrm{c}}}{\mathrm{h}_{\mathrm{s}}}$

π= N

π6=$\frac{\mathrm{L}_{\mathrm{s}}}{\mathrm{h}_{\mathrm{s}}}$      

π2 / π1=$\frac{E_L}{E_0}$

the functional relationship may be written as:

$\frac{\mathrm{E}_{\mathrm{L}}}{\mathrm{E}_1}=f\left(\frac{\mathrm{y}_{\mathrm{c}}}{\mathrm{h}_{\mathrm{s}}}, \frac{\mathrm{L}_{\mathrm{s}}}{\mathrm{h}_{\mathrm{s}}}, \mathrm{N}, \mathrm{Re}\right)$     (8)

Eq. (8) will eventually become Eq. (9) as a result of the fourth dimensionless factor (Re), which is avoided due to the turbulence of the flow over the stepped spillway and the generation of a significant Reynolds number:

$\frac{E_L}{E_1}=f\left(\frac{\mathrm{y}_{\mathrm{c}}}{\mathrm{h}_{\mathrm{s}}}, \frac{\mathrm{L}_{\mathrm{s}}}{\mathrm{h}_{\mathrm{s}}}, \mathrm{N}\right)$     (9)

3. Result and Discussion

Discussing and analyzing the results acquired from the laboratory data is the most important step in understanding the most crucial factors that affect energy dissipation, all experiments were performed at the laboratory of hydraulics in the civil engineering department at the university of Basrah. The measurement and outputs for all experimented models are tabulated in Tables 2, 3, and 4.

Several relation charts derived from data tabulated in table 2,3, and 4 to discuss and analyze each parameter appeared in the dimensional analysis equation. Each parameters' effect will be discussed separately below.

Table 2. Experimental results for models having downstream inclination of 45 degree

Type of Step

h(m)

q

(m3/s/m)

yc

(m)

Eo

(m)

y1

(m)

E1

(m)

EL/Eo

(%)

Type of Step

h(m)

q

(m3/s/m)

yc

(m)

Eo

(m)

y1

(m)

E1

(m)

EL/Eo

(%)

 

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

 

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

Model A1 Number of Steps = 5

Model A2 Number of Steps = 5

Flat

0.09

0.002

0.006

0.460

0.002

0.032

93.0

Pooled

0.09

0.002

0.006

0.460

0.002

0.026

94.2

Steps

 

0.003

0.010

0.465

0.003

0.073

84.2

Steps

 

0.003

0.010

0.465

0.003

0.047

89.9

 

 

0.005

0.014

0.471

0.004

0.088

81.3

 

 

0.005

0.014

0.471

0.005

0.063

86.7

 

 

0.007

0.017

0.476

0.005

0.099

79.3

 

 

0.007

0.017

0.476

0.006

0.076

84.1

 

 

0.010

0.021

0.482

0.007

0.108

77.7

 

 

0.010

0.021

0.482

0.008

0.081

83.1

 

 

0.012

0.025

0.487

0.008

0.117

75.9

 

 

0.012

0.025

0.487

0.010

0.085

82.4

 

 

0.015

0.028

0.492

0.010

0.122

75.3

 

 

0.015

0.028

0.492

0.012

0.095

80.8

 

 

0.018

0.032

0.498

0.012

0.127

74.5

 

 

0.018

0.032

0.498

0.013

0.102

79.6

 

 

0.021

0.035

0.503

0.014

0.133

73.5

 

 

0.021

0.035

0.503

0.015

0.107

78.7

Model A3 Number of Steps = 10

Model A4 Number of Steps = 10

Flat

0.045

0.002

0.006

0.460

0.002

0.029

93.6

Pooled

0.045

0.002

0.006

0.460

0.002

0.026

94.2

Steps

 

0.003

0.010

0.465

0.003

0.061

86.9

Steps

 

0.003

0.010

0.465

0.004

0.037

92.1

 

 

0.005

0.014

0.471

0.004

0.072

84.6

 

 

0.005

0.014

0.471

0.005

0.052

88.9

 

 

0.007

0.017

0.476

0.006

0.082

82.8

 

 

0.007

0.017

0.476

0.007

0.065

86.3

 

 

0.010

0.021

0.482

0.007

0.092

80.9

 

 

0.010

0.021

0.482

0.009

0.068

85.9

 

 

0.012

0.025

0.487

0.009

0.100

79.5

 

 

0.012

0.025

0.487

0.011

0.077

84.2

 

 

0.015

0.028

0.492

0.011

0.106

78.5

 

 

0.015

0.028

0.492

0.012

0.086

82.4

 

 

0.018

0.032

0.498

0.013

0.112

77.4

 

 

0.018

0.032

0.498

0.014

0.092

81.5

 

 

0.021

0.035

0.503

0.014

0.119

76.3

 

 

0.021

0.035

0.503

0.016

0.098

80.5

Table 3. Experimental results for models having downstream inclination of 35 degree

Type of Step

h(m)

q

(m3/s/m)

yc

(m)

Eo

(m)

y1

(m)

E1

(m)

EL/Eo

(%)

Type of Step

h(m)

q

(m3/s/m)

yc

(m)

Eo

(m)

y1

(m)

E1

(m)

EL/Eo

(%)

 

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

 

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

Model B1 Number of Steps = 5

Model B2 Number of Steps = 5

Flat

0.09

0.002

0.006

0.460

0.002

0.026

94.2

Pooled

0.09

0.002

0.006

0.460

0.003

0.022

95.3

Steps

 

0.003

0.010

0.465

0.003

0.061

86.9

Steps

 

0.003

0.010

0.465

0.004

0.034

92.6

 

 

0.005

0.014

0.471

0.005

0.069

85.3

 

 

0.005

0.014

0.471

0.006

0.045

90.4

 

 

0.007

0.017

0.476

0.006

0.079

83.4

 

 

0.007

0.017

0.476

0.008

0.055

88.6

 

 

0.010

0.021

0.482

0.008

0.084

82.6

 

 

0.010

0.021

0.482

0.009

0.062

87.1

 

 

0.012

0.025

0.487

0.010

0.090

81.5

 

 

0.012

0.025

0.487

0.011

0.070

85.7

 

 

0.015

0.028

0.492

0.012

0.095

80.8

 

 

0.015

0.028

0.492

0.013

0.076

84.6

 

 

0.018

0.032

0.498

0.014

0.100

80.0

 

 

0.018

0.032

0.498

0.016

0.081

83.8

 

 

0.021

0.035

0.503

0.016

0.105

79.1

 

 

0.021

0.035

0.503

0.018

0.086

82.9

Model B3 Number of Steps = 10

Model B4 Number of Steps = 10

Flat

0.045

0.002

0.006

0.460

0.003

0.024

94.8

Pooled

0.045

0.002

0.006

0.460

0.003

0.015

96.7

Steps

 

0.003

0.010

0.465

0.004

0.042

91.1

Steps

 

0.003

0.010

0.465

0.005

0.024

94.8

 

 

0.005

0.014

0.471

0.005

0.052

88.9

 

 

0.005

0.014

0.471

0.007

0.035

92.6

 

 

0.007

0.017

0.476

0.007

0.061

87.2

 

 

0.007

0.017

0.476

0.009

0.044

90.7

 

 

0.010

0.021

0.482

0.009

0.072

85.0

 

 

0.010

0.021

0.482

0.010

0.054

88.8

 

 

0.012

0.025

0.487

0.010

0.081

83.3

 

 

0.012

0.025

0.487

0.012

0.062

87.3

 

 

0.015

0.028

0.492

0.012

0.086

82.4

 

 

0.015

0.028

0.492

0.014

0.070

85.8

 

 

0.018

0.032

0.498

0.014

0.090

81.8

 

 

0.018

0.032

0.498

0.016

0.075

84.9

 

 

0.021

0.035

0.503

0.017

0.095

81.1

 

 

0.021

0.035

0.503

0.019

0.081

84.0

3.1 The effect of slope and number of steps

Figure 5 shows the relationship between relative energy dissipation and the dimensionless parameter yc/h for three different slopes with a number of steps 5 and 10. The relative energy dissipation for a spillway with s slope of 25 degrees is higher than a spillway with a slope of 35 degrees by 7.1% max and 16.2% max than a spillway with a slope of 45 degrees.

The relative energy dissipation is higher as the slope of the spillway is milder and vice versa. The energy dissipation curve for milder slope; unlike the steeper slope curve, tends to be horizontal as the passing flow rate increases. The impact of spillway’s slope is obvious in higher flow rates than lower flow rates. It can be seen from the increasing gap between the adjacent curves.

Increasing number of steps causes an increase in relative energy dissipated in an unequal proportion for different slopes. The effect of increasing number of steps is higher in steeper models on the contrary of the milder slopes. It can be seen in the figure the convergence between the two curves of a 25-degree slope and the divergence between the two curves of a 45-degree slope. By increasing the number of steps on a spillway, the triangular space between the steps decreases which causes more of the vortices and more disturbance on the passing flow that leads to a rise in energy dissipation.

Vertical axis source: -column 7 of data table, Horizontal axis source: - column 3 divided on column 1

Figure 5. Relationship of relative energy dissipation versus the dimensionless parameter yc/h for different spillway slope and number of steps

Table 4. Experimental results for models having downstream inclination of 25 degree

Type of Step

h(m)

q

(m3/s/m)

yc

(m)

Eo

(m)

y1

(m)

E1

(m)

EL/Eo

(%)

Type of Step

h(m)

q

(m3/s/m)

yc

(m)

Eo

(m)

y1

(m)

E1

(m)

EL/Eo

(%)

 

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

 

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

Model C1 Number of Steps = 5

Model C2 Number of Steps = 5

Flat

0.09

0.002

0.006

0.460

0.003

0.022

95.3

Pooled

0.09

0.002

0.006

0.460

0.003

0.015

96.7

Steps

 

0.003

0.010

0.465

0.004

0.039

91.6

Steps

 

0.003

0.010

0.465

0.006

0.023

95.1

 

 

0.005

0.014

0.471

0.005

0.050

89.4

 

 

0.005

0.014

0.471

0.008

0.031

93.5

 

 

0.007

0.017

0.476

0.008

0.055

88.6

 

 

0.007

0.017

0.476

0.009

0.039

91.8

 

 

0.010

0.021

0.482

0.009

0.062

87.1

 

 

0.010

0.021

0.482

0.012

0.046

90.5

 

 

0.012

0.025

0.487

0.012

0.066

86.4

 

 

0.012

0.025

0.487

0.014

0.051

89.6

 

 

0.015

0.028

0.492

0.014

0.071

85.5

 

 

0.015

0.028

0.492

0.016

0.058

88.2

 

 

0.018

0.032

0.498

0.017

0.074

85.2

 

 

0.018

0.032

0.498

0.019

0.063

87.4

 

 

0.021

0.035

0.503

0.020

0.077

84.7

 

 

0.021

0.035

0.503

0.022

0.067

86.7

Model C3 Number of Steps = 10

Model C4 Number of Steps = 10

Flat

0.045

0.002

0.006

0.460

0.003

0.020

95.7

Pooled

0.045

0.002

0.006

0.460

0.004

0.013

97.2

Steps

 

0.003

0.010

0.465

0.004

0.037

92.1

Steps

 

0.003

0.010

0.465

0.007

0.019

95.9

 

 

0.005

0.014

0.471

0.006

0.043

90.8

 

 

0.005

0.014

0.471

0.009

0.027

94.3

 

 

0.007

0.017

0.476

0.008

0.051

89.3

 

 

0.007

0.017

0.476

0.010

0.035

92.7

 

 

0.010

0.021

0.482

0.010

0.055

88.5

 

 

0.010

0.021

0.482

0.013

0.042

91.3

 

 

0.012

0.025

0.487

0.012

0.060

87.6

 

 

0.012

0.025

0.487

0.015

0.047

90.4

 

 

0.015

0.028

0.492

0.015

0.066

86.6

 

 

0.015

0.028

0.492

0.018

0.053

89.2

 

 

0.018

0.032

0.498

0.017

0.071

85.7

 

 

0.018

0.032

0.498

0.020

0.058

88.2

 

 

0.021

0.035

0.503

0.020

0.077

84.7

 

 

0.021

0.035

0.503

0.024

0.063

87.6

3.2 The effect of using end sills

Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show the relative energy dissipation for flat and pooled steps versus the dimensionless parameter yc/h; these two figures express the enhancement of energy dissipation when using end sills on all of the spillway’s steps. This enhancement may surpass the effect of changing the spillway’s slope. Using end sill accessory on the spillway steps will increase the relative energy dissipation more for steeper slope model than the milder slope model.

Figure 7 shows the relationship between relative energy dissipation and the dimensionless parameter yc/h for pooled step. It shows approximately the same behavior but with an increase in relative energy loss ranges from 1% to 8.5% than the flat steps.

In this study, non-dimensional parameters of Eq. (9) were used as input and output variables to develop equations using SPSS statistical software (26). This equation will help us predict the relative energy loss and will give us an impression about the degree of influence of each parameter. The data were divided into two groups training and validation. The training set is the largest set and is used to obtain the expression model, a validation set is used to check the performance of the developed equation. About 70% of the data set was used for building the model and 30% for validation. The non-linear statistical regression technique is used for prediction models to identify the hydraulic properties of energy dissipation so that the energy dissipation equation of flow over the stepped spillway had been obtained as Eq. (10) for flat steps condition see Figure 8. Same procedure was conducted to obtain an equation for pooled step condition in Eq. (11), see Figure 9.

Figure 8 and Figure 9 show the predicted data of relative energy dissipation resulted from SPSS equations versus data observed form experimental study for flat step condition and pooled step condition respectively. The figures show that the equations developed by SPSS are predicting values with acceptable regression coefficient R2.

(a)

(b)

Vertical axis source: -column 7 of data table, Horizontal axis source: - column 3 divided on column 1

Figure 6. a) Relationship between the relative energy dissipation and dimensionless parameter yc/h for different spillway slope for number of steps = 5 in two conditions; flat and pooled; b) Relationship between the relative energy dissipation and dimensionless parameter yc/h for different spillway slope for number of steps = 10 in two conditions; flat and pooled

Vertical axis source: -column 7 of data table, Horizontal axis source: - column 3 divided on column 1

Figure 7. Relationship of relative energy dissipation versus the dimensionless parameter yc/h for different spillway slopes and number of steps in pooled step condition

Figure 8. The observed energy dissipation versus the predicted by Eq. (10) for flat step condition

$\mathrm{E}_{\mathrm{l}} / \mathrm{E}_{\mathrm{o}}=56.223\left(\mathrm{y}_{\mathrm{c}} / \mathrm{h}^{-0.094}\quad\right) \cdot\left(\mathrm{N}^{0.127}\quad\right) \cdot\left(\mathrm{h}_{\mathrm{s}} / \mathrm{l}_{\mathrm{s}}^{-0.121}\quad\right)$     (10)

$\mathrm{E}_1 / \mathrm{E}_{\mathrm{o}}=62.163\left(\mathrm{y}_{\mathrm{c}} / \mathrm{h}^{-0.085}\quad\right) \cdot\left(\mathrm{N}^{0.108}\quad\right) \cdot\left(\mathrm{h}_{\mathrm{s}} / 1_{\mathrm{s}}^{-0.093}\quad\right)$     (11)

Figure 9. The observed energy dissipation versus the predicted by Eq. (11) for flat pooled step condition

4. Conclusion

The main points for the conclusion of this study are the following:

  1. The relative energy dissipation is higher as the slope of the spillway is milder and vice versa.
  2. Increasing the number of steps will increase the number of vortices and decrease their volume; the number and volume of vortices have the opposite effect on the relative energy dissipation. In this study increasing number of steps causes an increase in relative energy dissipation by no more than 4.6%.
  3. Using additional accessories on the steps like end sills will enhance the relative energy dissipation in a way that may surpass the effect of using a milder slope spillway. This may be used to reduce the size of the structure of the spillway.
  4. Increasing number of steps causes an increase in relative energy dissipated in an unequal proportion for spillways with different slopes. The effect of the increasing number of steps is higher in steeper models on the contrary of the milder slopes.
  References

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