A study of head velocity variations for density currents with discharge and slope variations in a divergent cross sections

Torabi Poodeh, Hassan; Ghomeshi, Mehdi; Fathi Moghadam, Manoochehr

doi:10.22055/jise.2010.13378

A study of head velocity variations for density currents with discharge and slope variations in a divergent cross sections

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Hassan Torabi Poodeh ¹

Mehdi Ghomeshi ²

Manoochehr Fathi Moghadam ³

¹ Ph.D. Student, School of water Sciences Engineering Shahid Chamran University of Ahwaz, Iran

² Professor of water Sciences Engineering Shahid Chamran University of Ahwaz, Iran

³ Associate Professor of water Sciences Engineering Shahid Chamran University of Ahwaz, Iran

10.22055/jise.2010.13378

Abstract

Studying the head velocity of density currents in reservoirs and seas is very important. One critical parameter largely affecting the head velocity of density currents is the variations of a river section in dams'' reservoirs. In the present study, using a physical model and a 3 dimensional mathematical model the head velocity of a density current into a divergent reservoir is investigated by various discharges and slopes. The experiments were performed in a flume with width of 72.5 m, length of 6 m and height of 60 cm. Different slopes and discharges are used. Then the Mathematical model was calibrated for a determinate discharge rate and the results were verified for a wide range of discharge rates.The mathematical model was performed for a wide range of density current discharges and the results of both models were analyzed. At the end, head velocity variations for density currents due to the slope and discharge variations were presented in form of dimensionless parameters for fixed and divergent cross- sections

Keywords

Density currents

Head velocity

Reservoir

Richardson number