Measurement and analysis of flow characteristics in a rotating circular flume

Summary A Laser Doppler Anemometer is used to measure the tangential and the vertical velocities and a Preston tube to measure bed shear stresses in a 5.0 m diameter rotating circular flume. Two cases are considered: only thelid rotating and the lid and flume rotating in oppo ite direction. The results from these measurements, which show that the flow- and turbulence-characteristics of the flume resembles what is known from channel flows, are used to verify a standard k – e turbulence model. The 3-D numerical model is formulated in cylindricalpolar coordinates and the olution i obtained using the PHOENICS-code. A comparison shows that the model can reproduce the measured characteristics. The model is finally used to demonstrate how the choice of the ratio of the lid- to flume-speed can reduce the secondary circulation in different geometries.