Energy dissipation of the flow over stepped cascade on downstream slope in embankment dams

Abstract

     The flow over downstream slope of embankment dams could cause erosion and unsafety for the dams. A number of overtopping protection systems were researched and developed for embankment dams such as minimum energy loss (MEL) weirs, embankment overflow, stepped spillways, precast concrete block protection systems, etc. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. On of the issues in this case is the effect of energy dissipation of overtopping protection systems. In this study, the application of overflow concrete stepped spillway to protect overtopping in embankment and the enhancement energy dissipation scheme will be introduced. Additionally, the numerical method also will used along with two phases mixture model and k-ε turbulence model to simulate the free flow over stepped spilllway. The influence of some enhancement schemes and embankment slopes on the energy dissipation are also investigated in this work.