World appl. programming, Vol(5), No (9), September, 2015. pp.

125-131

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World Applied Programming

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Experimental Investigation of the Three-dimensional Flow Velocity

Components in a 180 Degree Sharp Bend
Mohammad Vaghefi*
Assistant Professor of Hydraulic Structures, Department of Civil Engineering, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran.

Maryam Akbari
M.Sc. Student of Hydraulic Structures, Civil Engineering Department, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran.

Ali Reza Fiouz

Assistant Professor of Structures, Department of Civil Engineering, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran.
*Corresponding author: vaghefi@pgu.ac.ir

Keywords

Abstract

Three-dimensional Velocity
180 Degree Sharp Bend
Flow Pattern
Vectrino Velocimeter

River bend routes are one of the considerable areas in flow pattern investigation. The flow in river bends is
affected by centrifugal force and pressure gradient. Thus, studying 3D flow pattern in bend routes is of high
importance. The aim of this paper is to investigate 3D flow velocity components in a 180 degree sharp bend.
The experiments were conducted in a channel with a central curvature radius of 2 meters and a width of 1
meter. Flow velocity measurement was carried out by using Vectrino velocity meter which is one the most
advanced types of velocity meters. The results demonstrated that the maximum longitudinal flow velocity
occurs near the inner wall of the bend at the earlier sections, whereas at the end sections it occurs near the
outer wall of the bend. Comparison between the flow longitudinal velocity values at distances of 5 and 95%
from the bed shows 60% increase in flow velocity from the area near the bed to the area near the water
surface. Also, investigating lateral and vertical velocities at various cross sections in this study led to the
observation that the maximum values of these velocities equal 35-70%, and 9-14% of the maximum
longitudinal flow velocity, respectively.

1.

Introduction

As one of the most essential water resources, rivers have always been known to have provided a place of living for the human civilization, and
called men to rejoice in water and lands about them. Rivers have always been subject to changes and variations through time, and erosion in
walls and beds, and scour at other parts are instances of such changes which were not favored by people settling at riverbanks, and caused
irreparable damage to people and the facilities. Thus, considering the importance of such issue, taking some critical measures in order to control
and direct rivers so as to minimize the above mentioned damages and to make the best use of these resources is deemed indispensable.
Therefore, the first step taken towards the goal is investigating flow pattern and measuring three dimensional velocities in river routes.
River bend routes are one of the areas in which complex flow patterns exist. Such complexity is due to not only the turbulence and the 3D nature
of the flow, but also bed topography and depth variations which are generally under the influence of erosion, sediment transport and
sedimentation processes. As the flow enters the bend, it is affected by centrifugal force. This force can vary in accordance with the bend radius
as well as the depth direction due to velocity variation. The centrifugal force present in the bend results in lateral gradient on water surface, and
such phenomenon leads to lateral pressure gradient at cross section. When pressure gradient overcomes the centrifugal force, a flow which is
called the secondary flow is formed in transverse direction in the bend. This flow causes the particles at the water surface to move towards the
outer wall, and those at the bed to move towards the inner wall.
The core of high velocity flow is normally located near the center of the channel in a straight reach. But as the flow moves around the bend, a
transverse inclination of the free water surface will occur decreasing the water depth near the inside bank at the entrance of the bend. This
decrease in flow depth is associated with an increase in flow velocity at that location. However, as the flow proceeds downstream, the centrifugal
force and the exchange of momentum between horizontal layers due to transverse circulation will change the velocity structure, and move the
higher velocity filament near the outside bank. This high velocity flow may stay close to the outside bank for a considerable distance in the
downstream direction unless the stream again meanders and initiates another change in the velocity structure [1].
Based on the above, the research is aimed at conducting an experimental investigation of three dimensional flow velocity pattern in a 180 degree
sharp bend. To date, there have been extensive researches undertaken into flow and scour pattern in river bend routes and they are addressed as
follows.
Shukry in 1949, studied flow in rivers bend, and introduced a criterion for strength of secondary flow. The criterion includes the ratio of kinetic
energy of the lateral flow to that of the main flow. He also concluded that in a bend, the kinetic energy of the lateral flow is smaller than that of
the longitudinal orientation [2]. Rozovskii in 1957, offered a relation for the determination of a specific length for when the secondary flow has
the maximum strength. Based on this relation, he concluded that in order to develop secondary flow, there needs to be a bend with a central
angle of at least 100 degrees for shallow flumes, and a 180 degree central angle of 180 degrees for deep ones. He also observed that logarithmic
distribution probability for velocity profile leads to favorable results [3]. Leschziner and Rodi in 1979, numerically simulated the flow in a 180
degree sharp bend in turbulence by using k- model. They assumed absence of hydraulic jump and flow separation. They observed that closer to
the end of the bend, maximum velocity tends to be found towards the external bend [4]. De Vriend and Geoldof in 1983, carried out a field
investigation, and numerical simulation of flow in the Dommel, a river in the Netherlands, within a short period of time. The section included
two 90 degree bends located sequentially, and in the same direction, and there was a short, straight reach in between. The results indicated that
maximum velocity is found at the entrance of the bend, close to the inner wall, and when close to the end of the bend, it is oriented towards the
external bend [5]. Bergs in 1990, carried out an experimental study on a U-shaped flume with trapezoid section, and live bed, and studied flow
pattern and topographical changes of the bed. He concluded that the flow will be spiral as soon as it enters the bend, expand in a distance of 3 to
5 meters from the bend, and disappear totally soon after it comes out of the bend [6]. Lien et al. in 1999, investigated the flow pattern in a bend
of 90 degrees and 180 degrees by using the depth averaged two-dimensional model. The effect of secondary flow in the model was determined

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World Applied Programming Vol(5), No (9), September, 2015.

through calculation of the distributed tensor of the stress. In addition to spread stresses, the important forces existing in the flume were
compared, and the result indicated that the secondary flow in the 180 degree bend is stronger than that in the 90 degree bend [7]. Jung and Yoon
in 2000, studied flow pattern and bed topography in a 180 degree mild bend. They observed that, generally, in mild bends with any type of bed
material, maximum velocity for the first half of the entrance zone of the bend is oriented toward the inner wall, and as it moves towards the end
of the bend, gradually, its geometric location falls on the outer wall [8]. Blanckaert and Graf in 2004, studied velocity distribution, boundary
shear stress, and the form and features of bed topography in bend flumes. They set out to determine bed topography in bend flumes considering a
central zone as a cell which can twist, and using a semi 3D model [9]. Sui et al. in 2006, conducted an experimental study on local scour in a
flume with a 90 degree bend, and analyzed the effect of some parameters such as Froude number, the slope and width of the protective wall, and
bed particle size on the amount of scour near the bed [10]. Naji et al. in 2010, did experimental and numerical studies of flow pattern in a 90
degree bend and concluded that streamlines in the level close to bed orient to inner wall and in the levels near the water surface orient to outer
wall [11]. Barbhuiya and Talukdar in 2010, carried out an experimental study of 3D flow pattern and scour in a 90 degree bend. They measured
mean velocity-time components, turbulence tension, and Reynolds shear stress in different vertical sections by using ADV. The results indicated
that the maximum measured velocity is 1.61 times the mean velocity. They also found the maximum scour hole [12]. Uddin and Rahman in
2012, conducted an experimental study of 3D flow pattern and erosion by using ADCP velocity meter in the bend of the Jamuna River. They
measured 3D velocity of the flow and shear stress near the river bed, and presented a model in order to predict erosion on the bend, based on the
processes of the flow. Finally, they compared the model with the real data recorded through their observations of the mentioned river [13].
Liaghat et al. in 2014, carried out a numerical study of the hydraulic of the flow in a U-shaped flume with changing width by using SSIIM
software. They studied 3D flow velocity components, shear stress, the strength of the secondary and spiral flows [14]. Vaghefi et al. in 2014,
used Depth-Averaged Method to study and analyze shear stress distribution near the bed in a 180 degree sharp bend. The results suggested that
the maximum dimensionless shear stress near the bed occurs at the beginning of the bend, near the inner wall and in the 40 degree cross section
[15].
It can be seen that most of the studies have been on 180 degree bends whose main reason is that the flow pattern development and depreciation
was complete. In fact, the main factors forming the flow in river bends are central angle of the bend, and the ratio of curvature radius to the
channel width in a way that the relations R/B<3 and R/B>3 are called sharp bend and mild bend respectively [4].
As noted earlier, 3D velocity components of the flow have not been experimentally studied in a 180 degree sharp bend (R/B=2) so far. In this
study, velocity components are investigated at various sections in order to study 3D flow velocity.

2.

Methodology

2.1 Experiments
A 1 meter wide, and 0.7 meter deep bend flume with a 180 degree central bend, which has glass walls and steel frames, was designed and built
for this experiment in the laboratory of advanced hydraulic structures in Persian Gulf University in Bushehr, Iran. A picture of the flume located
in the laboratory, and the schematic plan, along with its geometric specifications are presented in Figures 1 and 2 respectively. As is observed,
the flume is composed of a 6.5 meter long upstream and 5 meter long downstream straight reaches, both of which are connected via a 180 degree
bend with an external and internal radius of curvature of 2.5 and 1.5 meters respectively. Since the flume is 1 meter wide, according to
Leschziner and Rodi [4] classification, it can be considered a sharp bend flume. (R/B=2<3). Channel bed is rigid and is covered with uniform
sediment with an average diameter of 1 mm. Also, the ratio of the mean flow velocity to the critical velocity (U/Uc) equals 0.98. Reservoirs are
placed under the flume in order to provide a capacity of 20 m3 of water. The pump has a discharge of 95 lit/s which is constant during the
experiment. The depth of the water is also constant, equal to 20 cm at the entrance of the bend, which is adjusted for the sake of the experiment
by using the butterfly gate at the end of the downstream reach.

Figure 1. A view of the 180 degree sharp bend multipurpose flume located in the
laboratory of advanced hydraulic structures in Persian Gulf University.

2.1 The Vectrino (3D Water Velocity meter) and its Software solutions
The Vectrino is a high-resolution acoustic velocity meter used to measure 3D water velocity. This device includes two different probes. The side
looking probe is used to measure the velocity of the flow near the walls of the flume and the water surface, and the down looking probe is used
in other situations. The velocity range is from 0.01 to 7 m/s, and is adjustable for the user with 5% measured accuracy (1 mm/s). [16] The
experiments will be carried out at a 25 Hz frequency in 1 minute. Therefore, the device can record up to 1500 data of the flow velocity per
second in three directions. The information of the measured data in various periods of time is recorded by Vectrino Software, and saved as adv
file. These data are then converted to vno for Explorer V Software, and when the velocities are analyzed and averaged, they are converted to a
format which excel can support. In Figure 3, the position of the velocity meter in a 180 degree bend, and the software used to save the data are
shown.

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Experimental Investigation of the Three-dimensional Flow Velocity Components in a 180 Degree Sharp Bend
World Applied Programming Vol(5), No (9), September, 2015.

Figure 2. The schematic plan and specifications of the flume.

Figure 3. Measuring the 3D flow velocity in a 180 degree sharp

bend by using the Vectrino and its software solutions [15].

In order to measure the velocity of the flow along the bend, 23 sections from the beginning to the end of the bend, each of which having 12 cross
sections, are used. As is seen in Figure 4, a sample of the meshing of the 180 degree bend is presented at cross section to measure the velocity of
the recorded points in the mesh.

Figure 4. A sample of the meshing used in the 180 degree sharp bend to
measure the velocity of the recorded points in the mesh at cross section.

3.

Results and Discussions

When the flow enters the bend, three-dimensional velocity components change due to secondary flows, and cause the occurrence of the
maximum velocity under the water surface, about the channel mid-depth. Moreover, the longitudinal velocity component distribution will not be
logarithmic either. Therefore, variations in the three-dimensional velocity components in the 180 degree sharp bend will be discussed in this
section. In these figures, B represents the width of the channel, Z the water level, V, U and W the longitudinal, lateral and vertical velocities
respectively.
3.1 Variations in the longitudinal velocity distribution
In order to study the flow velocity distribution in depth, along with its variations through the flume, the longitudinal velocity contours are shown
at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 90, 100, 120, 160, and 180 degree cross sections in Figure 5. According to Figure 5-a, the longitudinal velocity does not
change significantly at the 0 degree cross section, and the maximum velocity occurs near the water surface due to the effect of the flow at
upstream straight route. At the cross sections that come after (Figures 5-b to 5-d), it is evident that the maximum velocity area moves towards the
inner wall. This phenomenon can be attributed to the longitudinal pressure gradients existent near the inner bank at the 180 degree sharp bend.
However, after the 60 degree cross section, the secondary flows effect is more evident. As is seen in Figures 5-e to 5-h (80 to 120 degree cross
sections), the maximum velocity area is moved from about the inner wall towards the middle of the channel. The secondary flow reaches its

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World Applied Programming Vol(5), No (9), September, 2015.

highest strength in such areas, and results in the formation of a vortex in these cross sections. Therefore, the pressure gradient has less effect on
flow pattern in these areas. Studying longitudinal velocity contours at the 160 degree cross section (Figure 5-i), it can be seen that unlike the
earlier process, the maximum flow velocity area is oriented towards the outer wall of the channel upon reaching the bend exit area. The
maximum flow velocitys transport towards the outer wall of the channel when the flow passes through the bend exit is evident in Figure 5-j.
This phenomenon occurs due to the dominance of the longitudinal pressure gradient, and as it can be observed, the secondary flow in the 180
degree sharp bend has no significant effect on velocity variations along the sharp bend (unlike in the mild bend routes), and it can be claimed
that all along the route (except the bend apex area), the lateral pressure gradient is dominant over the secondary flow.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(i)

(j)

Figure 5. Longitudinal velocity contours in the 180 degree sharp bend at

a) 0, b) 20, c) 40, d) 60, e) 80, f) 90, g) 100, h) 120, i) 160, and j) 180 degree cross sections.

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Experimental Investigation of the Three-dimensional Flow Velocity Components in a 180 Degree Sharp Bend
World Applied Programming Vol(5), No (9), September, 2015.

3.2 Variations in the lateral velocity distribution

Figure 6 depicts the lateral velocity distribution at 20, 80, 90, 100, 160, and 180 degree cross sections as a sample. As it can be seen, the negative
values of the flow velocity component near the channel bed, and its positive values near the water surface indicate the existence of the secondary
flows in the sharp bend. According to Figure 6-a, lateral velocity values are small due to strong longitudinal pressure gradients at the beginning
of the bend. But, further away on the route, they increase in such a way that the lateral velocity values, and consequently the secondary flows,
reach their highest amount at the bend apex area (Figures 6-b to 6-d). It can be observed that the lateral velocity values reach twice their initial
values at the beginning of the bend upon arriving at the bend apex. When the flow has passed the middle of the bend and reaches the bend exit,
the lateral velocity values decrease for the longitudinal pressure gradients gain strength to a large extent at the end of the route (Figure 6-e). Such
decrease in the lateral velocity at the bend exit is evident at the 180 degree cross section (Figure 6-f). Moreover, based on all the illustrations in
Figure 6 and comparing them with those in Figure 5 it can be concluded that the maximum lateral velocity values are about 35-70% of the
maximum longitudinal velocity.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)
Figure 6. Lateral velocity contours in the 180 degree sharp bend at
a) 20, b) 80, c) 90, d) 100, e) 160, and f) 180 degree cross sections.

3.3 Variations in the vertical velocity distribution

The vertical velocity contours are shown at 20, 80, 90, 100, 160, and 180 degree cross sections in Figure 7. According to Figure 7-a, vertical
velocity values are positive near the bed and adjacent to the inner wall, while they are negative in other areas. The maximum vertical flow
velocity also occurs near the outer wall. At the area in the middle of the bend (Figures 7-b to 7-d), the values of the vertical velocity components
at a wide area near the outer wall are negative, while the maximum value of the vertical velocity is found near the inner wall and the water
surface. When vertical velocity contours at the bend exit were studied, it was found that the vertical velocity is negative all along the width of the
channel except for the areas near the water surface and the middle of the channel (Figures 7-e and 7-f). The illustrations in Figure 7 indicate that
the vertical velocity values are very small in comparison with longitudinal and lateral velocities in such a way that the maximum value is about 9
to 14% of the longitudinal velocity.
3.4 Flow velocity distribution in plan views
The longitudinal velocity is depicted in two different plan views at distances of 5 and 95% of the flow depth from the channel bed in Figure 8.
Studying figures 8-a and 8-b and comparing them with Figure 6 demonstrates that since longitudinal pressure gradient is strong at the beginning
and at the end of the 180 degree sharp bend, the flow velocity always reaches maximum at the beginning and the end cross sections. Moreover, a
comparison between Figures 8-a and 8-b indicates increase in flow velocity due to increase in flow depth. Consequently, the flow velocity at a
distance of 5% of the flow depth from the bed is about 60% of the velocity at a distance of 5% of the flow depth from the water surface.

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World Applied Programming Vol(5), No (9), September, 2015.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)
Figure 7. Vertical velocity contours in the 180 degree sharp bend at
a) 20, b) 80, c) 90, d) 100, e) 160, and f) 180 degree cross sections.

(a)

(b)

Figure 8. Longitudinal velocity contours in the plan views of the 180 degree sharp
bend at distances of a) 5, and b) 95 percent of the flow depth from the bed.

4.

Conclusion

After the experimental study conducted in the advanced hydraulic laboratory of Persian Gulf University to determine 3D flow velocity
components in a 180 degree sharp bend, the results were summarized as follows:

At the bend entrance, the flow is affected by the upstream straight route, and the maximum flow longitudinal velocity is observed near
the water surface.

The maximum velocity always remains near the inner wall due to strong pressure gradients at the bend entrance.

The secondary flow strength reaches the maximum value at the bend apex areas (80 to 100 degree cross sections).

The pressure gradient overcomes the secondary flow at the bend exit, and velocity transport phenomenon occurs.

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Experimental Investigation of the Three-dimensional Flow Velocity Components in a 180 Degree Sharp Bend
World Applied Programming Vol(5), No (9), September, 2015.

The lateral velocities are negative near the bed and positive near the water surface indicating the existence of the secondary flows.
The maximum values of the lateral and vertical velocities at different cross sections are 35-70% and 9-14% of the maximum
longitudinal velocity values, respectively.
The values of the vertical velocity component at the bend entrance are positive near the bed and adjacent to the inner wall, and
negative at other areas.
Increase in flow depth in plan views leads to about 60% increase in the longitudinal velocity from a distance of 5 to 95% of the flow
depth from the bed.

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[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]

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