Evaluation the Hydraulic Aspects of Stepped Labyrinth Spillway

Abstract

This study was adopted a new concept to enhance performance of stepped spillway towards more dissipation of kinetic energy along chute face through increases interlocking surface areas between the mainstream and trapping cavity recirculation vortices on the tread of chute steps and each step edge that beneath it, and increasing the interaction of the flow interference over stepped spillway. The aim of this concept is by employment the specification of a labyrinth weir by configured as a stepped spillway, to produce new steps named as Labyrinth stepped spillway. Experiments were restricted in skimming flow regimes, it have been carried out on four physical models with chute angles (35°). Where models are classified into three labyrinth stepped spillway models of three different magnification length ratios LT/W=1.1, 1.2, and 1.3, additionally; a traditional or conventional shape models were used for comparison. All physical models assembled with step height 4 cm, eight steps constructed for a total height of 32 cm and width of 30 cm .The results generally show that the energy dissipation with labyrinth shape stepped spillway was more than resulted with the traditional shape. As the magnification ratio increase, the energy dissipation observed to increase compare with traditional model.

Keywords

• stepped spillway
• labyrinth weir
• skimming flow
• dissipation energy