Study on fluid-structure interaction characteristics of large-span submerged radial gates
Abstract Due to their large span and complex support conditions, large-span bottom-hinged radial gates are highly susceptible to significant hydrodynamic impacts and vortex-induced vibrations during operation, making fluid-structure interaction (FSI) effects particularly prominent. In this study, the FSI dynamic characteristics of such gates are systematically investigated. A three-dimensional finite element model of the gate is established, and the flow field is simulated using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) two-phase flow model and the RNG k-ε turbulence model using Fluent. The pressure distribution and velocity field characteristics, as well as the displacement and stress of the gate under different gate openings, are analyzed. Results show that during the lifting stage, the upstream flow remains generally stable, with a slight increase in the water surface elevation. In the lowering stage, vortices form near the downstream sill edge during submergence, increasing local sedimentation risk. For both the lifting and lowering operations, the maximum displacement and maximum stress of all gate components gradually decrease with increasing gate opening. The results provide important theoretical support for the safe operation and optimized design of large-span bottom-hinged radial gates.
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