SPH modelling of the water nappe gravity fall over a dam

Abstract

This work uses the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) meshless numerical method in order to investigate the behaviour of a water sheet falling under gravity by reproducing the experimental results of a laboratory chute of 9.5 m height. This kind of flow occurs typically over dam ogee-type spillways. The focus is on the trajectory and velocity of the water sheet as well as on the pressure upon impact. Simulations using a combination of adaptive particle refinement, surface tension model and air friction model were tested. The SPH simulations with refinement show good agreement with the experimental pressure results for all comparisons, while using air friction allows correct modelling of the falling velocity distribution.