Hydraulic computation of converging stepped-chute stilling basin

Abstract

The influence of converging stepped spillways on dimensions of the stilling basins for RCC dams was studied, based on the results of physical modeling, existing empirical expressions, and basic laws of fluid mechanics and hydraulics. The study includes analysis of parameters that affect the magnitude of a hydrodynamic force which is transferred into the stilling basin, and presents an original design methodology. A procedure for simplifying the optimization process for the entire spillway is proposed.