Exploring impacts of inlet condition on flow structure in a Compound open-channel using PIV

A compound open channel is composed of the main channel and flood plain. In experiments with compound open channel conducted to ensure that the flow is uniform and fully developed, it is necessary to study the distribution of discharge in the main channel and flood plains. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effects of channel inlet condition on flow uniformity by considering distribution of discharge in channels with length to flood plain width ratio lower than 35 (needed for fully developed flow condition) by analyzing the flow field and turbulence parameters. For this purpose, particle image velocimetry method has been used in a rectangular compound open channel. To provide correct measurement of secondary velocities, using a non-intrusive method such as particle image velocimetry is completely essential. The results of this study show that in short compound channels with the same screen installed in the main channel and flood plain, there is significant mass transfer from the flood plain to the main channel until the end of the channel length. It was found that in this case, a considerable downfall occurs for the maximum velocity position in the main channel. However, with a supplementary screen installed in the flood plain, in addition to the typical screen, expected conditions are established similar to the fully developed compound channels. In this condition, the time-averaged streamwise velocities vary considerably in the flood plain along the spanwise direction. On the other hand, in short compound channels with the same screen installed in main channel and flood plain, the streamwise velocities do not change significantly along the flood plain width duo to the imperfect interaction of main channel and flood plain. These observations express that to provide correct distribution of discharge, a supplementary screen should be installed in the flood plain of the compound channel.