Numerical and Experimental Analysis of the Turbulent Flow in a Compound Channel

This paper presents the numerical and experimental investigation of the developing flow in a compound channel formed by a rectangular main channel and a gap in one of the sidewalls. A three dimensional Large Eddy Simulation computational code with a dynamic subgrid-scale model is introduced, where the flow is modeled through the conservation equations of mass and momentum of a quasi-incompressible, isothermal continuous medium. Finite Element Method with the Taylor-Galerkin and explicit Two-Steps schemes and linear hexahedrical elements are applied. The computational domain used intends to reproduce the geometry and flow conditions of an experimental test section were the results of velocity and velocity fluctuations obtained with Pitot tube and hot wires are used for comparison of the numerical results, which show good agreement with the experimental results.