EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF HYDRAULIC PERFORMANCE ON DIFFERENT LIP PROFILE SLUICE GATES UNDER FREE FLOW CONDITION

Abstract

This experimental study is a part of open channel hydraulics, and sluice gates are critical hydraulic structures used in dams, barrages, canals, drainage, and irrigation channels for controlling flow discharge and water level. Previously many researchers investigated the flow beneath the sluice gate for sharp-edge sluice gates experimentally. They found that the lip of a profile is a critical factor for discharge control. This research study investigates the effect of hydraulic coefficients, hydraulic force, and mechanics of flow upstream under free flow conditions under different lip profiles of the gate with various gate openings. Experiments are performed over the flume apparatus, and six different lip shapes are considered. The lips are selected with increasing angles for the experiments - rectangular edge, 30° edge, 45° edge, cylindrical edge, 60° streamlined, and 45°grooved edge placed facing the upstream level. We develop the graphical relationship of flow coefficients of gate profiles, observing the trend’s behavior concerning the flow parameters and drawing the theoretical conclusions by following the preliminary dye profile test on upstream flow. The performed experimental study validates the hydraulic parameters, shows variation for different lip profiles with changes in gate opening, and identifies the lip with better hydraulic performance.