Numerical Determination of the Equivalent Sand Roughness for a Regular Surface Roughness (Cubes)

Abstract

The Discrete Porosity Method (DPM) is a time-efficient simulation method that can be used to determine the equivalent sand roughness of an arbitrary surface roughness. It has been successfully applied to an irregularly distributed roughness (cast iron surfaces) to estimate the equivalent sand grain roughness of these surfaces. However, the DPM method has not yet been applied to a regularly distributed surface roughness. In this paper, the DPM method is used to determine the equivalent sand roughness of a regular roughness shape in the form of a cube array. The results of channel flow simulations using the DPM method are compared with experimental data. After identifying the fully rough regime in the channel flow, the equivalent sand grain roughness of the cubes is determined and compared with available data from the literature.