Effect of semi-circular baffle blocks on local scour downstream clear-overfall weirs

Abstract

Local scour downstream hydraulic structures may result in damage or complete structural failure and loss of life and property. In this paper, an experimental study was conducted to predict the scour geometry downstream a Fayoum type weir and to minimize the scour using a row of semi-circular baffle blocks. The considered shape in this research is easy to be used as an extra element to existing water structures in order to minimize local scour downstream these structures. A hundred 53 runs were carried out considering various heights and positions of baffle blocks with different flow conditions. A case of flat floor without baffles was included in the test program to estimate the influence of using the baffle piers. Results were analyzed and graphically presented, and simple formulae were provided to evaluate the scour parameters.

Keywords

• Local scour
• Baffle blocks
• Scour equations
• Hydraulic structures
• Hydraulic jump
• Physical model