Physical Model

In order to have a proper similarity between model and

prototype, dimensional analysis should be conducted. The
Buckingham theorem is used for such purpose.

It requires 3 similarities
- Geometric (scale)
- Dynamic (Force)
- Kinematic (Velocity)
 Nam Ngum 2 Overflow Spillway

Scale = 1:50
What is spillway ?

It is the hydraulic
structure having
function to release
excess water from
the reservoir when
reservoir is full or
(almost) full.
For open channel flow ( and spillway, weir, other
hydraulic structures) the Froude-similarity is used for
modeling.

F
V (or |F)
gh

Where v = velocity
h = water depth (Length scale L in meter)
g = gravitational acceleration
 Fp = Fm

Subscript p denotes prototype

Subscript m denotes model

Vp Vm

g p Lp g m Lm Because gm = gp gravitational
acceleration on earth is the same.
Vp

Lp Where Lr = Relative Length = Lp
Vm Lm Vp
Lm
and V r
Vm
Vr L 1/ 2
r
Example 1

When 1: 50 scale model is used, Lr is equal to 50.

Therefore Vr is equal to Vp (50)1 / 2 7.07
Vm

Velocity scale

Measured velocity in the model is 1.5m/s, then velocity in

prototype is 7.07 x Vm = 7.07 x 1.5 = 10.6 m/s
Time scale
L
V
t
L
t
V
Lp Lm
tp and tm
Vp Vm
tp Lp Vm

tm Vp Lm

Then

Lp Vm


Lm Vp
L
1 /r2 L1r/ 2 same as velocity scale
Lr
Discharge scale

L3
Q
t

Qp L3p tm L3r
3
1/ 2
Qm t p Lm Lr

L3r
1/ 2
Lr

L5r / 2
Example 2
The Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) is 40,000 m2/s. The scale
model is 1: 20. Compute required discharge in the model. If the
available pump is 200 litr/s. What is additional pump capacity?

Q L5r / 2 (120)5 / 2 157,744.1

Qp 40,000
Qm x1,000 253.5
Qr 157,744.1

Additional pump is 253.5-200 = 53.5 litr/s

Roughness scale
1 2 / 3 1/ 2
Manning equation V
n
R S

R 2 / 3 S 1/ 2
n
V

Where V is velocity in an open channel

A
R is hydraulic radius (R )
P
A is cross section
P is wetted perimeter
S is slope
 np R p2 / 3 S 1p/ 2 Vm

nm V p Rm2 / 3 S m1/ 2
2/3 1/ 2
Rp Sp Vm

Rm Sm Vp

L2r / 3 (1)
1
L1r/ 2
L1r/ 6

1. Why Froude number is used ?

2. Why scale 1: 50 is used in Example 1 ? Why not 1: 100, 1: 25,
1:10

Answer 1

In order to make model to represent the prototype, the force

apply to model and prototype will be similar. The main force on
spillway is inertial (gravity) force.
 F = ma

= g

F = Force = specific weight kg X volume = X x L3

m
3

m = mass (kg) = density (kg/m3) x volume(m3)= x L3

a = acceleration (m2/s) = velocity (m/s) /time (s) = v/t

 Fm mm am

Fp m p a p
m L3m m LmVmt p
3

p Lp p L3ptmV p
3

Vm Vp

g mt m g p t p

But tm Lm / Vm

t p Lp / Vp
Vm2 V p2

g m Lm g p Lp This is to prove that Fround number
Vm Vp of prototype and model are the
same, when inertia force dominate
g m Lm g p Lp
the hydraulic flow condition (gravity
Fm Fp flow)
Answer 2: Why To select the scale

Example 3

When Small scale such as 1 : 1,000 is used. A river is 10 km. long,

200 m wide and 10 m deep in prototype will be 10 m long 20 cm
and 1 cm deep. The effect of surface tension will

10 m

20 cm
Point gauge to measure
water depth

1 cm

10 m. Long
 When large scale 1: 10 is used, the following results can
be obtained.

Scale Prototype Model

Length Lr (10) 10 km 1 km (not enough space)

Discharge Qr = L5r /12 8,000 m3/s 25 m3/s (not enough pumping capacity)

316 (25,000 l/s) Max 500 l/s

If 1: 50 Qr = 17,677.67 8,000 m3/s 452 l/s possible

*Factor*
- Available pump, space & pipe diameter
Parameter Scale Relation Scale Ratio
Length, L Lr= Lp/Lm 50
Velocity V Vr= L1r/ 2 7: 07
Discharge Q Qr = L5r / 2 17,677.67
Roughness Manning, N Nr = L1r/ 6 1.92

Guideline for scale selection only !!

Type of work Approximate Recommended Scale

Spillway 1: 150, 1: 100, 1:50, 1:25
Vortex Test 1: 30 , 1: 15
Pumping Test 1: 10
Assignment
1. The spillway model has a scale 1 : 140. Compute velocity, time and
discharge ratio. When a flood hydrograph with Qmax equals to
4,000 m3/s and flood duration is 3 days, compute the model s
discharge and flood time.
Flow in a pipe is different from open channel flow. Viscosity is the
predominant force. Therefore the Reynolds number similarity is
used.

VD
IR

V = Velocity
D = Pipe Diameter
= kinematic viscosity
( 0.01 cm2/s)
 IR p IRm

Vp Lp Vm Lm

p m

Vp Lm p

Vm Lp m

1
Vr
Lr
When same fluid is used in both model & prototype

- Compute Qr and tr
- When Lr is equal to 1: 100, compute Vr and Qr .
It is noted that computed velocity in the model will be greater than
that in the prototype.
Points taken home

1. To make the model for open channel flow, Froude similarity

is used while Reynold number is applied for closed conduit.
2. To select a proper scale model, other factors such as
available space, pump capacity, surface tension effect
should be carefully considered.
3. It is noted that the computed and selected scale to be used
can not be integer . For example the diameter of a tailrace
tunnel is 6.8 m and the available PVC inside diameter is 19.18
cm. The computed scale is.
Distorted Scale for Fraud Similarity

z x

(1) Length scale Zr , Xr ,Yr

Xr =Yr = Lr Zr
(2) Velocity scale

Fp = Fm
vp

vm h is in vertical axis.
gh p ghm

1/ 2
vp Zp
hp

vm hm Z m

vr Z r1/ 2

Velocity scale vr Z r1/ 2

(3) Time scale

L
t
V
tp L V
p m
tm Vp Lm

L V
p m

Lm Vp
X p Vm


X m V p
Xr

Vr

X r Z r1 / 2
(4) Discharge scale
X .Y .Z
Q v. y.z
t
Qp v p y p z p

Qm vm ym zm

Qp vp Zp Yp
Qr
Qm vm Zm Ym

Z r1 / 2 .Z r .Yr

Z r3 / 2Yr
(5) Roughness scale

R 2 / 3 1/ 2
n S
v
vm S p
2/3 1/ 2
np Rp

nm Rm v S
p m
2/3
Rr

vr
Z r2 / 3
1/ 2
Zr

Z r1 / 6
Unit of Manning equation

R 2 / 3 S 1/ 2
v
n

R 2 / 3 S 1/ 2 m 2 / 3 .S
n
v m

R 2 / 3S 1 / 2
n
v