Numerical Modeling of Compound Channels for Determining Kinetic Energy and Momentum Correction Coefficients Using the OpenFOAM Software

Abstract The non-uniformity of the flow velocity distribution in each section of compound channels and in the main channel-floodplain interface area causes errors in estimating water surface profile, flood routing, pollution transfer, and so on. To reduce the impacts of non-uniformity on the exact calculation of kinetic energy and momentum, α and β correction coefficients are used, respectively. However, the determination method of these coefficients is a challenging issue in river engineering. This study used the OpenFOAM Software to determine these coefficients numerically for two laboratory models of compound open channels of which the data are available, using the single-phase pimpleFoam solver to do modeling in the mentioned software and the k-ωSST turbulence model to calculate the flow characteristics. Based on the results, the highest difference (13%) between the results estimated by the software and those obtained from the lab experiments was seen in the low flow depth where the flow left the main channel and entered the floodplain of a very shallow depth, possibly due to the grid generation of this area. This difference decreased as the flow depth increased, and its average was 6.65% for α coefficient and 2.32% for β coefficient in all cases, which means the results of numerical modeling and the experimental data conformed well, and the OpenFOAM software can be successfully used in flow modeling and analyzing flow characteristics in compound channels.