A hybrid model for simulating velocity field of a river with complex geometry plunged by multiple jets

A hybrid model that combines both physical and numerical models was employed to simulate the velocity field in a river area in complex geometry with multiple plunging jets. The simulation was based on experiments concerning energy dissipation and scour prevention at the Xiluodu Hydropower Station on the Yangtze River. The calculated results indicate that the complex geometry of the river area has a significant influence on the velocity field, especially on the circulation flow pattern at upstream and downstream of the plunging area and on the asymmetric characteristics of the spiral flow near both banks. The scour characteristics of the downstream river bed caused by the multiple jets were also predicted and analyzed according to the characteristics of the calculated velocity field. The good agreement between the simulated and experimental results indicates that the hybrid model can be used to effectively solve complicated 3-D problems with complex geometric and inlet conditions. Such problems may not easily be solved by using either a physical or a numerical model alone, and therefore the method presented in this article is considered to be a practical and effective way of dealing with this kind of problems.