Analysis of flow past a submerged vane using computational fluid dynamics

Analysis was carried out in a straight open channel with an approximate discharge of 0.22 cubic meters per second (m³ s⁻¹). Pattern of the circulation was found at different vertical section and its intensity was found along the flow direction using the second invariant of the velocity vector. Effect of the secondary current on the channel bed was found by studying the transverse bed shear stress at different transverse locations. From the downstream of the vane, two minor counter-rotating vortices are formed near the sides of the channel, and single major vortexes are formed near the centerline of the vane. Further, going far away from the vane in the downstream direction, the minor vortices tend to move toward the suction side, and the major vortex tends to move away from the vane toward the pressure side slightly. The strength of the circulation is generally found to be negative on the upstream side of the vane and positive on the downstream side, attaining a maximum positive value near the location of the vane. The variation of transverse bed shear stress along the transverse direction was found at the vane location, with negative values of bed shear on the suction side and positive bed shear values on the pressure side. Further going along the flow in the downward direction away from the vane, bed shear variation shows an approximate bell-shaped curve having positive values everywhere and attaining the maximum positive values near the vane on the pressure side.