Two-dimensional natural element analysis of double-free surface flow under a radial gate

Abstract

The gravity-driven free surface flow problems for which both the solid and free surface boundaries are highly curved are very difficult to solve. A computational scheme using a variable domain and a fixed domain natural element method (NEM) is developed in the present study for the computation of the free surface profile, velocity and pressure distributions, and the flow rate of a 2D gravity fluid flow through a conduit and under a radial gate. The problem involves two highly curved unknown free surfaces and arbitrary curved-shaped boundaries. These features make the problem more complicated than flow under a sluice gate or over a weir. The fluid is assumed to be inviscid and incompressible and the results obtained are confirmed by conducting a hydraulic model test. The results are in agreement with other flow solutions for free surface profiles and pressure distributions.