3D hydrodynamic modelling enhances the design of Tendaho Dam Spillway, Ethiopia

Abstract

Hydraulic structures are often complex and in many cases their designs require attention so that the flow behavior around hydraulic structures and their influence on the environment can be predicted accurately. Currently, more efficient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes can solve the Navier-Stokes equations in three-dimensions and free surface computation in a significantly improved manner. CFD has evolved into a powerful tool in simulating fluid flows. In addition, CFD with its advantages of lower cost and greater flexibility can reasonably predict the mean characteristics of flows such as velocity distributions, pressure distributions, and water surface profiles of complex problems in hydraulic engineering. In Ethiopia, Tendaho Dam Spillway was constructed recently, and one flood passed over the spillway. Although the flood was below the designed capacity, there was an overflow due to superelevation at the bend. Therefore, design of complex hydraulic structures using the state-of- art of 3D hydrodynamic modelling enhances the safety of the structures. 3D hydrodynamic modelling was used to verify the safety of the spillway using designed data and the result showed that the constructed hydraulic section is not safe unless it is modified.