A Concise Method to Predict the Mean Dynamic Pressure on a Plunge Pool Slab.

Area of Science:

• Hydraulic engineering
• Fluid dynamics
• Civil engineering

Background:

• Hydrodynamic pressure on plunge pool slabs from jet impingement is critical for high dam safety.
• Understanding pressure characteristics from different flip bucket designs (CFB and SFB) is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally investigate pressure characteristics induced by jets from constant width flip buckets (CFB) and slit flip buckets (SFB).
• To propose and validate a concise computational method for predicting the mean dynamic pressure field on plunge pool slabs.

Main Methods:

• Flume experiments using a pressurized plane pipe to control inlet velocities.
• Predicting pressure field position using parabolic trajectory theory for free jets.
• Determining maximum mean dynamic pressure via dimensional analysis and applying Gaussian distribution.

Main Results:

• A concise computational procedure was developed using easily obtainable parameters.
• Formulas for key coefficients (takeoff velocity, takeoff angle, k2) were derived by fitting experimental data.
• The proposed method accurately calculates maximum mean dynamic pressure using geometric and initial hydraulic conditions.

Conclusions:

• The developed method provides a practical approach for calculating hydrodynamic pressure on plunge pool slabs.
• The findings offer valuable references for hydraulic applications in high dam projects.
• Experimental validation confirmed the practicability and accuracy of the proposed prediction model.