Numerical simulation of scouring funnel in front of bottom orifice

The scouring funnel in front of a bottom orifice under the condition of fixed water levels is simulated by using an Eulerian two-phase model, with onsideration of the flow-particle and particle-particle interactions. The predictions of the scouring funnel shape agree well with laboratory measurements. The flow-field characteristics of the two phases and the influences of the hydraulic and geometric parameters on the shape of the scouring funnel are analyzed on the basis of the computation results. It is revealed that the non-dimensional maximum scour hole parameters, the depth d_m / d_o, the length l_m / d_o, and the half-width w_m / d_o, are linear with the densimetric Froude number Fr_o, the main parameter describing the scour hole, the centerline scour depth D_c and the half-scour width W_r vary according to a power law, and the transverse scour profiles exhibit strong similarities, the velocity distribution of the water is confined within the sink-like area near the orifice, and the mutual impact of the flows at the azimuthal sections and the resistances of the walls and the sand layer produce a vortex in the scour hole, that makes the sand particles to be suspended in the water, the exchanging water in the pore water is the main contributor in forcing the sand to move, and transporting the sand in the same direction as the pore water along azimuthal sections.