Numerical Modelling for Scour Near Cofferdams Using Eulerian Two-Phase Flow Model
摘要
Cofferdams play a vital role in water-based construction projects, offering a secure environment by isolating structures from water. However, scour around cofferdams poses significant risks to structural stability, necessitating accurate predictions to guide design and mitigate construction costs. Traditional methods for estimating scour, primarily based on physical experiments and empirical formulas, often fail to capture the complexities of sediment-water interactions. This study presents a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model using a two-phase Eulerian approach to simulate scour around cofferdams. The model, implemented in OpenFOAM v2012, integrates advanced inter-granular stress models - Kinetic Theory of Granular Flows and μ(I) rheology providing accurate representations of sediment transport under varying flow conditions. Simulations were conducted to analyze the impact of cofferdam geometry and flow velocity on scour depth and sediment dynamics. Results were validated against experimental data from HR Wallingford’s General Purpose Flume, demonstrating the model’s reliability in predicting scour depths. Key findings indicate that scour depth is highly influenced by local hydrodynamics controlled by the shape of the structure, highlighting the importance of precise modeling in designing resilient cofferdam structures. This research advances the state-of-the-art in scour prediction by bridging experimental observations with robust numerical methods.