Three-Dimensional Hydraulic Models
The USACE Bay Model is one of the most famous and most complex physical hydraulic models ever built. While it was once used for scientific research, it is now a tourist attraction.
(Image Source: USACE) |
Three-dimensional hydraulic models are typically used in the study of rapidly-varied flow that occurs along a spillway or bridge pier or in the study of the effects of turbulence and irregular flow geometries on various closed conduit components such as valves or flow meters. As a result of the uncertainties in predicting the effects of rapidly-varied flow by using either one- or two-dimensional hydraulic modeling methods, three-dimensional models reduce the uncertainty in this type of turbulent flow and help to achieve a greater level of optimization for a hydraulic design in an engineering project. There are two types of three-dimensional hydraulic models that can be used depending on the level of analysis and detail required by the study and available funds:
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Revision ID: 7425
Revision Date: 07/21/2023