SPH modelling of depth-limited turbulent open channel flows over rough boundaries

A numerical model based on the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method is developed to simulate depth-limited turbulent open channel flows over hydraulically rough beds. The 2D Lagrangian form of the Navier-Stokes (N-S) equations are solved, in which a drag-based formulation is used based on an effective roughness zone near the bed to account for the roughness effect of bed spheres and an improved Sub-Particle-Scale (SPS) model is applied to account for the effects of turbulence. The SPS model is constructed based on the mixing-length assumption rather than the standard Smagorinsky approach to compute the eddy-viscosity. A more robust in/out-flow boundary technique is also proposed to achieve stable uniform flow conditions at the inlet and outlet boundaries where the flow characteristics are unknown. The model is applied to simulate uniform open channel flow over a rough bed composed of regular spheres and validated by experimental velocity data. To investigate the influence of the bed roughness on different flow conditions, data from 12 experimental tests with different bed slopes and uniform water depths are simulated and a good agreement has been observed between the model and experimental results of the streamwise velocity and turbulent shear stress. This shows that both the roughness effect and flow turbulence should be addressed in order to simulate the correct mechanisms of turbulent flow over a rough bed boundary and that the presented SPH model accomplishes this successfully.