Investigation of density flow in dam reservoirs using a three-dimensional mathematical model including Coriolis effect

This paper aims to simulate and discuss the propagation of density current and divergence flow in a dam reservoir. The density plunging flow is modeled in three-dimensions through a dam reservoir with diverging and sloping bottom channels, and the plunging phenomenon has been reproduced in the present model. Nonlinear and unsteady continuity, momentum, energy and turbulence model equations are formulated in the Cartesian coordinates both in a sloping and in a diverging channel. For the turbulence viscosity, a k–ε turbulence model including buoyancy effects is used to reproduce the main flow characteristics. To investigate the Coriolis force effect on the density flow in a dam reservoir, Coriolis force parameter is also included in the governing equations. The equations of the model are solved based on the initial and boundary conditions of the dam reservoir flow for a range of bottom slopes and divergence angles. In this paper the main interest is the formation of separated flows, such as wall-jet and free-jet flows. The model successfully simulates the formation of attached flow, wall jets, and free jets in a negatively buoyant environment. The simulation results obtained from this study are compared with previous experimental work, and the mathematical model studies data on density current generated by the plunging of cold water in ambient warm water in a diverging channel, and is found to be of the same magnitude as the experimental measurements and followed the expected basic trend.