J. Sterling Jones Hydraulics Research Laboratory

Ongoing Laboratory Activities

Fish Passage in Large Culverts with Low Flows

A primary objective of this aspect of the fish passage study is to determine the local velocities and flow distributions in corrugated metal pipes and pipe arches. To evaluate the ability of fish to traverse corrugated metal culverts more accurately, it is desirable to examine the changes in the local average velocity of the flow adjacent to the culvert wall under low flow conditions.

Figure 1

Comparison of velocity profile from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and particle imagery velocimetry (PIV).

Figure 2

Three-dimentional (3-D) truncated single phase model with velocity contour section in STAR-CCM+.

In Situ Scour Testing Device

This study will research the feasibility of using a scour testing field device (in situ scour device) to determine the erodibility of soils around bridge foundations. An effective in situ scour testing device could provide assistance on a project-by-project basis. Such a field device could define the scour potential more accurately for a given set of hydraulic design conditions.

Figure 3

Concept 1: A U-shaped channel that creates a steady horizontal flow near the bed being tested. The design of ISDT device is conceptually shown in this picture. The flow in the primary inlet on the left is directed to change from downward direction to horizontal direction. This channel passes through the main erosion area instrumented with a series of ERT and LVDT. The flow is then redirected upwards into the primary output channel on the right. A blue arrow in the inlet channel pointing downward shows the path of clear water. A red arrow pointing upward shows the path of flow carrying suspended load.

Figure 4

Concept 2: The alternative design of ISTD has a compact revolving head that emits a horizontal jet to remove bed material. The alternative design of the ISDT consists of a cylindrical body. Clear water represented by downward blue arrows is injected at the center into a revolving hollow disk. A nozzle at the lower surface of the disk emits a horizontal jet. This jet revolves with the disk and scans across the entire testing area. Dirty water represented by red arrows then moves up around the disk into the cylindrical chamber and subsequently removed.

Time Evolution of Pressure Flow Scour

This study is a continuation of the fiscal year (FY) 2008 completed research on pressure flow scour that only addressed the maximum clear water scour. In FY 2009, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center's (TFHRC's) J. Sterling Jones Hydraulics Research Laboratory also conducted a few tests to research the time dependency on pressure flow scour. To develop design guidance, additional tests are needed. This study uses the high-speed cluster at Argonne National Laboratory's Transportation Research and Analysis Computing Center (TRACC) to run several pressure flow scour simulations to augment the tests in the TFHRC J. Sterling Jones Hydraulics Research Laboratory. The new design procedure will be incorporated into HEC-18 (Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 18) “Evaluating Scour at Bridges.”

Figure 5

This graphic is a two-dimensional (2-D) mapping of experimental pressure flow scour that shows the scour depth in a strip of the flume 2.5m in length. The deepest scour area near the center of the figure is shown in brown color. The flow is towards the lower-right of the figure.

Figure 6

This figure shows the CFD modeling of equilibrium scour state for pressure flow scour.

Scour in Cohesive Soils

The study addresses the incipient erosion of cohesive soils. Scour on cohesive soils is a very complex phenomenon that is not completely understood. A special erosion apparatus (ESTD) was developed to apply hydraulic loading on cohesive soil samples. The study will develop new design procedures for scour prediction in cohesive soils. The new design procedure will be incorporated into HEC-18 “Evaluating Scour at Bridges”.

Figure 7

This collage represents the concept of the computer-controlled Ex-situ Scour Testing Device and it shows an overview of the apparatus that is used to measure erosion forces of soil samples. The main device, shown on the right side of the picture, generates flow conditions in the near boundary layer as it occurs in the field. The mounting position of the soil sample is highlighted in the red frame. The sample is mounted on a sensor that can measure soil response forces. The bottom left side of the picture shows the graphical user interface to operate the apparatus. The soil response force sensor is shown in the upper left corner. Also shown is a typical plot of recorded normal forces acting on a soil sample.

Figure 8

This picture illustrates the velocity profiles and one set of measured shear and normal stresses during ESTD experiments. The purpose of the ESTD is to reproduce the near-bed velocity profile in the open channel by superposing a conduct velocity profile generated by the pump and an S-shape Couette flow velocity profile by the rolling belt. The lower two insets give instantaneous measurements by the direct force gauge in an experiment. The left inset shows the time series of the shear stress on the soil and the accumulated lift-ups of the soil. The right inset shows the time series of the normal stress on the force gauge, the remaining soil mass, and the accumulated lift ups of the soil. The belt speed was 1.0 m/s in the experiment.

Hydraulics Laboratory Extension 

In August 2009, the Florida Department of Transportation donated its high-speed sediment recirculation flume to FHWA. The new equipment provides FHWA with the ability to conduct tests that are closer to actual field situations, and therefore, expand the state of the knowledge. However, an obstacle prevented use of the equipment, because the current laboratory configuration was too short to fit the new flume, making an extension a necessity. The proposed laboratory extension will be 20-feet long, 15-feet wide, and 20-feet in height. Construction has started, with figures showing the ongoing construction and the schematic of the proposed extension, respectively.

Figure 9

This figure illustrates the proposed extension to the TFHRC J. Sterling Jones Hydraulics Research Laboratory. The extension will mainly house the sediment-collecting basin.

Figure 10

This figure shows the ongoing construction of the TFHRC J. Sterling Jones Hydraulics Research Laboratory extension project. The image shows the construction of the concrete block walls and the opening for the new garage door.

New Sediment Recirculation Flume

The new high-speed sediment recirculation flume was designed after the only existing high-speed flume in Auckland, New Zealand. Unique to the United States, the new flume allows velocities up to 30ft/s; and it can be tilted; and sediment can be recirculated. The flume consists of several sections including a sediment catch basin, a special return section, and a diffuser to return the flow into the flume. A 100hp inline pump circulates water and sediment in the flume. The footprint of the flume and catch basin is 110 feet long x 10 feet wide x 10 feet high. The width of the main channel in the flume is 3.28 feet.

Figure 11

The picture shows the future view of the new sediment recirculation flume. The flume has a specially designed inflow trumpet and a sediment collecting basin at the downstream end of the flume.

Figure 12

The picture shows the three main sections of the flume and the sediment-collecting basin sitting outside on a parking lot.