As part of ongoing research efforts aimed at improving the performance of water discharge structures in dams, Dr. Rusul Lateef, a faculty member in the Department of Water Resources Engineering at the University of Baghdad, delivered a lecture on the flow behavior in the spillway structure known as the Flip Bucket, which represents one of the critical components of dam design. The lecture was presented within the framework of her Ph.D. dissertation.
Dr. Lateef explained that this section of the dam is among the most susceptible to erosion and damage due to exposure to high hydraulic forces, which may affect the stability and operational efficiency of the structure. The study focused on analyzing flow dynamics and identifying the most suitable numerical model for simulating turbulent phenomena within this critical zone, utilizing the ANSYS Fluent software to test various structural modifications.
The research examined several turbulence models, including k-epsilon, RKE, RNG, SKE, and DES (Detached Eddy Simulation). Results indicated that the DES model provided the highest accuracy in representing the physical flow behavior, particularly in terms of velocity distribution, water pressure, and their impact on the spillway body.
The lecture concluded that geometric modifications to the spillway channel and deflection angle could effectively reduce hydraulic losses and minimize potential structural damage, thereby enhancing the efficiency and safety of dam water discharge systems.
