Abstract
Several methods have been proposed to control the sedimentation process. These include catchment management, flushing, sluicing, density current venting, and dredging. Flushing is used to erode previously deposited sediments. In pressurized flushing, the sediment in the vicinity of the outlet openings is scoured and a funnel shaped crater is created. In this study, the effect of localized vibrations in the sediment layers on the dimensions of the flushing cone was investigated experimentally. For this purpose, experiments were carried out with two bottom outlet diameters, five discharge releases for each desired water depth, and one water depth above the center of the bottom outlets. The results indicate that the volume and dimensions of the flushing cone are strongly affected by localized vibrations.
1. Introduction
Sustaining the storage capacity of existing reservoirs has become an important issue rather than building new reservoirs which is difficult be cause of strict environmental regulations, high construction costs, and the lack of suitable dam sites (Shen, 1996). Several methods have been proposed to control the sedimentation process. These may include catchment management, flushing, sluicing, density current venting, and dredging. Flushing is used to erode previously deposited sediments (Brandt, 2000). One of the most effective techniques is flushing by hydraulically removing the deposited sediment by the flow. The oldest known method of flushing, practiced in Spain in the 16th century, was referred to by D’Rohan (Brown, 1943).
