A Study of Flow in Open Orthogonal and Trapezoidal Channels with Gabion Walls

The turbulent characteristics of the flow in open channels with gabion walls are studied numerically. Two trapezoidal and one orthogonal channel are used along with four different heights: 100mm, 150mm, 200mm, and 250mm of sand roughness in the gabion walls. Calculations of velocity, pressure, turbulence kinetic energy and eddy viscosity show clearly that the presence of the roughness affect considerably the fluid motion. As expected, the rough elements affect the mean velocity inside the channel and near the walls. Near the solid walls, the velocity profile is significantly affected and sharply lower velocities are observed very close to the walls.