Turbulent Viscosity Concept Downstream an Open-Channel Sudden Expansion

The recirculations are essential in river engineering because they form silting zones and favour the development of specific fauna and flora. This paper deals with the behaviour of the recirculation zones occurring downstream the sudden expansion of an open channel. An Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter is used to measure the flow details. The mean flow property such as the length of the recirculation, the average velocity field and velocity gradient are obtained. Then the self-similarity of the velocity profile is retrieved. The numerical simulation for the similar conditions are preformed with the CFD software STAR CCM+. When compared with the experiments, the two approaches correspond well in terms of length of recirculation zone and also regarding details such as the velocity gradient profiles. Finally, the eddy viscosity concept is tested and the turbulent viscosity coefficient are obtained along the streamwise axis for all flows.