Air Entrainment in Drop Shafts: A Novel Approach Based on Machine Learning Algorithms and Hybrid Models

Air entrainment phenomena have a strong influence on the hydraulic operation of a plunging drop shaft. An insufficient air intake from the outside can lead to poor operating conditions, with the onset of negative pressures inside the drop shaft, and the choking or backwater effects of the downstream and upstream flows, respectively. Air entrainment phenomena are very complex; moreover, it is impossible to define simple functional relationships between the airflow and the hydrodynamic and geometric variables on which it depends. However, this problem can be correctly addressed using prediction models based on machine learning (ML) algorithms, which can provide reliable tools to tackle highly nonlinear problems concerning experimental hydrodynamics. Furthermore, hybrid models can be developed by combining different machine learning algorithms. Hybridization may lead to an improvement in prediction accuracy. Two different models were built to predict the overall entrained airflow using data obtained during an extensive experimental campaign. The models were based on different combinations of predictors. For each model, four different hybrid variants were developed, starting from the three individual algorithms: KStar, random forest, and support vector regression. The best predictions were obtained with the model based on the largest number of predictors. Moreover, across all variants, the one based on all three algorithms proved to be the most accurate.

Dynamic analysis of vertical stormwater storage systems

A below-grade vertical stormwater storage system is one of the solutions to reduce the volume of sewer overflows released into the environment. The system is submerged most of the time during filling, which can result in hydraulic problems. This research intent to provide some insight on potential hydraulic problems that can occur in a vertical storage system during intense rain events. An experimental study was conducted using a physical scale model that consists of two vertical storage shafts, a horizontal tunnel and an inflow drop shaft. The results showed that both entrapped air in the system and mass flow oscillation in the system can cause a rapid rise of water level, or a geyser, at the drop shaft. The predictions of a modified version of HAMMER compared well with the experimental result while the InfoWorks CS model was unable to simulate vertical momentum in the drop shaft.

Dynamic analysis of vertical stormwater storage systems

A below-grade vertical stormwater storage system is one of the solutions to reduce the volume of sewer overflows released into the environment. The system is submerged most of the time during filling, which can result in hydraulic problems. This research intent to provide some insight on potential hydraulic problems that can occur in a vertical storage system during intense rain events. An experimental study was conducted using a physical scale model that consists of two vertical storage shafts, a horizontal tunnel and an inflow drop shaft. The results showed that both entrapped air in the system and mass flow oscillation in the system can cause a rapid rise of water level, or a geyser, at the drop shaft. The predictions of a modified version of HAMMER compared well with the experimental result while the InfoWorks CS model was unable to simulate vertical momentum in the drop shaft.

Three-Dimensional Flow of a Vortex Drop Shaft Spillway with an Elliptical Tangential Inlet

Vortex drop shaft (VDS) spillways are eco-friendly hydraulic structures used for safely releasing flood. However, due to the complexity of the three-dimensional rotational flow and the lack of suitable measuring devices, current experimental work cannot interpret the flow behavior reliably inside the VDS spillway, consequently experimental and CFD study on a VDS spillway with an elliptical tangential inlet was conducted to further discern the interior three-dimensional flow behavior. Hydraulic characteristics such as wall pressure, swirl angle, annular hydraulic height and Froude number of the tapering section are experimentally obtained and acceptably agreed with the numerical prediction. Results indicated that the relative dimensionless maximum height of the standing wave falls off nearly linearly with the increasing Froude number. Nonlinear regression was established to give an estimation of the minimum air-core rate. The normalized height of the hydraulic jump depends on the flow phenomena of pressure slope. Simulated results sufficiently reveal the three-dimensional velocity field (resultant velocity, axial velocity, tangential velocity and radial velocity) with obvious regional and cross-sectional variations inside the vortex drop shaft. It is found that cross-sectional tangential velocity varies, resembling the near-cavity forced vortex and near-wall free vortex behavior. Analytic calculations for the cross-sectional pressure were developed and correlated well with simulated results.

Impact response of various concretes at 2.8-second drop shaft

This paper presents experimental testing of various types of concrete under impact loading by using a 2.8-second drop shaft. The drop shaft is located in the Josef Underground Laboratory and allows dropping a projectile from 40 meters that results in a maximal velocity of 100 km/h. Three basic types of concrete were used in the framework of this study. This was normal strength concrete, fibre-reinforced concrete, and high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete. The slabs were constructed 1700 mm × 500 mm × 70 mm in size and the clear span of the impacted slab was 1500 mm. Damage of the slab was recorded and the velocity of the projectile was measured with the high-speed camera before and after the impact. It was demonstrated that high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete has a higher ability to absorb and dissipate the kinetic energy of the impact that their lower strength counterparts.

Experimental investigation of hydraulic characteristics and energy dissipation in a baffle-drop shaft

The baffle-drop shaft structure is usually applied in deep tunnel drainage systems to transfer shallow storm water to underground tunnels. At present, the definition of the maximum operational capacity of baffle-drop shafts is lack of scientific and reasonable analysis, and the researches on hydraulic and energy dissipation characteristics have been insufficient. In this paper, a 1:25 scale hydraulic model test was conducted to observe the flow phenomena during the discharge process, analyze the relationship between the maximum inflow discharge and the baffle parameters, and calculate the energy dissipation rate of the shaft under different flow conditions. The results demonstrated that three kinds of flow regimes were presented in the discharge process: wall-impact confined flow, critical flow, and free-drop flow. The impact wave majorly brought about the energy dissipation of water on the baffle. The impingement and breakup of the inflow at the bottom of the drop shaft, as well as the reverse flow, resulted in the final energy loss. The time-averaged pressure value of the upper baffle was 1.5–3 times that of the central and lower baffles. The baffle with a design angle could effectively reduce the time-averaged pressure of the water flow acting on the baffle. The energy dissipation rate of the drop shaft decreased with the increase in the inflow discharge, and the energy dissipation rate was found to range from about 63.14% to 96.40%. The optimal size of the baffle-drop shaft with the maximum energy dissipation rate was d/B = 0.485 and θ = 10° (d, B, and θ are the baffle spacing, width, and angle, respectively).

Experimental flow characterization in a spiral vortex drop shaft

Connecting storm-sewers located at rather different elevations may be made with vortex drop shafts in which the energy dissipation is made by the friction between the vertical shaft and the flow and downstream by the impinging jet in a dissipation chamber. Following the first model design in the 1940s, different types of vortex drop shafts have been developed. One of the most used type is the so-called spiral vortex drop shaft developed to work in supercritical flow with good performance in both energy dissipation and space constrains. In this paper, an experimental flow characterization in a spiral vortex drop shaft is conducted covering the three main components of these structures, namely the inlet channel, the vertical shaft and the dissipation chamber. The results include measurement of water depths, pressure and velocity.