Comparison of Subcritical and Supercritical Flow Characteristics in U-shaped Channels Along Submerged and Non-Submerged Side Weir

Generally, side weirs are used for regulating and controlling the flow in the main channels. U-shaped channels are used as transition structure from rectangular to circular cross-section in sewage systems. This study presented a flow field simulation in the U-shaped channels along a side weir using FLOW-3D software, the RNG k-ε turbulence model and volume of fluid (VOF) scheme under the subcritical and supercritical flow conditions. The good agreement was obtained between the results of the numerical simulation and the experimental measurements for both flow regimes. For example, the root mean square error for subcritical and supercritical flow regimes was computed as 2.86% and 2.21%, respectively. In subcritical flow regime, a secondary flow created in the main channel which developed toward the downstream. The lateral flow increased from the beginning of the side weir toward the downstream end of the weir under supercritical flow regime. The effects of the side weirs submergence were investigated on the flow pattern in the main channel too. The maximum transverse velocity almost happened at the middle of the submerged weir length