SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation on flow field near confluence of two rigid channels at zero-degree

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Fluid Mechanics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Confluence is common occurrence in both natural and manmade open channels. In present study, flow field near the confluence of zero-degree open channels are investigated. Experiments were performed in the laboratory for the different discharge ratios, and the three-dimensional velocities were measured with the help of ADV. Velocity data obtained from experimental measurements were utilized to validate the numerical results. Computational Fluid Dynamics based Detached Eddy Simulations (DES) numerical model was used to obtain flow field near the confluence of the channels. Effect of discharge ratio on the flow field was studied. Flow field showed presence of vortices close to the confluence when the discharge ratio was 1.0. These vortices pose a potential risk to the confluence system. However, with the decrease in the discharge ratio the formation of vortices moves downstream of the confluence. The numerical model used in the study established good agreement with experimental data. This suggests that the numerical simulations accurately captured the behaviour of the flow field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data which support this investigation are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  1. Ahadiyan J, Adeli A, Bahmanpouri F, Gualtieri C (2018) Numerical simulation of flow and scour in laboratory junction. Geosciences 8(5):162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Ansari MF, Ahmad Z (2024) Scour pattern at zero-degree confluent channels. Acta Geophys. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-023-01274-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Best JL (1987) Flow dynamics at river channel confluences: Implications for sediment transport and bed morphology. Recent Developments in Fluvial Sedimentology. Spec Publ SEPM Soc Sediment Geol 39:27–35

    Google Scholar 

  4. Best JL (1988) Sediment transport and bed morphology at river channel confluences. Sedimentology 35:481–498

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Best JL, Roy AG (1991) Mixing-layer distortion at the confluence of channels of different depth. Nature 350:411–413

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Boyer C, Roy AG, Best JL (2006) Dynamics of a river channel confluence with discordant beds: flow turbulence, bed load sediment transport, and bed morphology. J Geophys Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JF000458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Bradbrook KF, Biron PM, Lane SN, Richards KS, Roy AG (1998) Investigation of controls on secondary circulation in a simple confluence geometry using a three-dimensional numerical model. Hydrol Process 12:1371–1396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bradbrook KF, Lane SN, Richards KS, Biron PM, Roy AG (2001) Role of bed discordance at asymmetrical river confluences. J Hydraul Eng 127:351–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Cheng Z, Constantinescu G (2018) Stratification effects on flow hydrodynamics and mixing at a confluence with a highly discordant bed and a relatively low velocity ratio. Water Resour Res 54:4537–4562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Cheng Z, Constantinescu G (2020) Near-and far-field structure of shallow mixing layers between parallel streams. J Fluid Mech 904:A21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Chu VH, Babarutsi S (1988) Confinement and bed-friction effects in shallow turbulent mixing layers. J Hydraul Eng 114:1257–1274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Constantinescu G, Koken M, Zeng J (2011) The structure of turbulent flow in an open channel bend of strong curvature with deformed bed: insight provided by detached eddy simulation. Water Resour Res 47:159–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Constantinescu G, Miyawaki S, Rhoads B, Sukhodolov A, Kirkil G (2011) Structure of turbulent flow at a river confluence with momentum and velocity ratios close to 1: insight provided by an eddy-resolving numerical simulation. Water Resour Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2010WR010018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Cushman-Roisin B, Constantinescu GS (2020) Dynamical adjustment of two streams past their confluence. J Hydraul Res 58:305–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. De Serres B, Roy AG, Biron PM, Best JL (1999) Three-dimensional structure of flow at a confluence of river channels with discordant beds. Geomorphology 26:313–335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Dubief Y, Delcayre F (2000) On coherent-vortex identification in turbulence. J Turbul 1(1):011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ghobadian R, Shafai Bajestan M (2007) Investigation of sediment patterns at river confluence. J Appl Sci 7:1372–1380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Goring DG, Nikora VI (2002) Despiking acoustic Doppler velocimeter data. J Hydraul Eng 128:117–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Huang J, Weber LJ, Lai YG (2002) Three-dimensional numerical study of flows in open-channel junctions. J Hydraul Eng 128:268–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Keshavarzi A, Melville B, Ball J (2014) Three-dimensional analysis of coherent turbulent flow structure around a single circular bridge pier. Environ Fluid Mech 14:821–847

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Koken M, Constantinescu G (2008) An investigation of the flow and scour mechanisms around isolated spur dikes in a shallow open channel: 1. Conditions corresponding to the initiation of the erosion and deposition process. Water Resour Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2007WR006489

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Lam MY, Ghidaoui MS, Kolyshkin AA (2016) The roll-up and merging of coherent structures in shallow mixing layers. Phys Fluids. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4960391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Lane SN, Bradbrook KF, Richards KS, Biron PM, Roy AG (2000) Secondary circulation cells in river channel confluences: measurement artefacts or coherent flow structures? Hydrol Process 14:2047–2071

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Leite Ribeiro M, Blanckaert K, Roy AG, Schleiss AJ (2012) Flow and sediment dynamics in channel confluences. J Geophys Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JF002171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Liu TH, Li CH, Fan BL (2012) Experimental study on flow pattern and sediment transportation at a 90° open-channel confluence. Int J Sediment Res 27:178–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. McLelland SJ, Ashworth PJ, Best JL (1996) The origin and downstream development of coherent flow structures at channel junctions. In: Ashworth PJ et al (eds) Coherent flow structures in open channels. Wiley, New York, pp 459–490

    Google Scholar 

  27. Mosley MP (1976) An experimental study of channel confluences. J Geol 84:535–562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Nikitin NV, Nicoud F, Wasistho B, Squires KD, Spalart PR (2000) An approach to wall modeling in large-eddy simulations. Phys Fluids 12(7):1629–1632

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Parker G, Garcia MH (eds) (2005) River, coastal and estuarine morphodynamics: Proceedings of the 4th IAHR Symposium on River, Coastal and Estuarine Morphodynamics (RCEM 2005, Urbana, Illinois, USA, 4-7 October 2005). CRC Press

  30. Ramamurthy AS, Tran DM, Carballada LB (1994) Increased hydraulic resistance in combining open channel flows. Water Res 28:1505–1508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Rhoads BL, Kenworthy ST (1998) Time-averaged flow structure in the central region of a stream confluence. Earth Surf Process Landf 23:171–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Rhoads BL, Sukhodolov AN (2001) Field investigation of three-dimensional flow structureat stream confluences: 1. Thermal mixing and time-averaged velocities. Water Resour Res 37:2393–2410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Rhoads BL, Sukhodolov AN (2004) Spatial and temporal structure of shear layer turbulence at a stream confluence. Water Resour Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003WR002811

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Rhoads BL, Sukhodolov AN (2008) Lateral momentum flux and the spatial evolution of flow within a confluence mixing interface. Water Resour Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2007WR006634

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Riley JD, Rhoads BL, Parsons DR, Johnson KK (2015) Influence of junction angle on three-dimensional flow structure and bed morphology at confluent meander bends during different hydrological conditions. Earth Surf Process Landf 40:252–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Spalart P (2000) Trends in turbulence treatments. In: Fluids 2000 conference and exhibit, p 2306

  37. Uijttewaal WS, Booij R (2000) Effects of shallowness on the development of free-surface mixing layers. Phys Fluids 12:392–402

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Umar M, Rhoads BL, Greenberg JA (2018) Use of multispectral satellite remote sensing to assess mixing of suspended sediment downstream of large river confluences. J Hydrol 556:325–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Weber LJ, Schumate ED, Mawer N (2001) Experiments on flow at a 90°open-channel junction. J Hydraul Eng 127:340–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Yuan S, Tang H, **ao Y, Qiu X, **a Y (2018) Water flow and sediment transport at open-channel confluences: an experimental study. J Hydraul Res 56:333–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

There are no sources of funding.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, India

    Mohd Faisal Ansari & Zulfequar Ahmad

Authors
  1. Mohd Faisal Ansari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zulfequar Ahmad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Author contribution MFA and ZA—wrote the manuscript. MFA—carried out experimental and numerical analysis and analysed results. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohd Faisal Ansari.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ansari, M.F., Ahmad, Z. Investigation on flow field near confluence of two rigid channels at zero-degree. Environ Fluid Mech (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-024-09997-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-024-09997-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation