EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE FLOW CHARACTERISTICS OF A GRADUALLY EXPANDING OPEN CHANNEL FLOW

Abstract

Flow fields of gradually expanded rectangular open channel flows are investigated experimentally. The trend of loss coefficient against divergence is similar to Gibson's results for Diffusers. Mean velocity profiles along the spanwise direction and the vertical direction can be, respectively, expressed by Goertler's equation for 2-D jets and the log-wake law. The wake strength parameter II increases in the flow direction. The secondary flow affects the distributions of a mean velocity, production of turbulence and intensity of turbulent energy.