An experimental investigation of the turbulent flow in a closed compound channel

A three-component laser Doppler anemometer was used to measure the fully developed, turbulent flow in a closed, symmetric, smooth-wall compound channel. Measurements were made across one quadrant of the cross-section since the flow was assumed symmetric. Measurements were made for a single channel Reynolds number.

All mean velocity components were calculated and are reported. The mean velocity field results are in good agreement with results reported for similar geometries. The vector plots and the axial vorticity distribution reveal the existence of secondary flow cells in both the main channel and the flood plain. The maximum values of the secondary velocities are at the comer region, on the interface between the main channel and the flood plain. In this region the mean velocity gradients are large, indicating that this might be an area of high turbulence production. The distributions of all Reynolds stresses across the cross-section are reported. The Reynolds stress distributions show peak values near the interface corner region and small values near the center-line and on the axes of symn1etry of the channel. The turbulence kinetic energy distribution verifies the existence of high turbulence energy fluid in the comer region.