Turbulent Flow of Water in Plane Curved Channels of Finite Depth

Abstract

An experimental study of turbulent flow in a plane curved channel of depth-to-width ratio 8:1 and mean radius-to-width ratio 1.83:1 by means of measured distributions of mean peripheral velocity and pressure and flow visualization methods using dye. It appears that due to the large depth-to-width ratio, the secondary flow, though appreciable, is apparent mainly in the end plate regions. Even so it has a pronounced effect on the flow near the inner (convex) wall. It appears that the sharp curvature is effective in quenching the turbulence of the entering rectilinear shear flow at the inner wall of the curved channel by causing a mean flow acceleration in this region. The study indicates that localized backflows can occur at the inner wall at the meeting of secondary and main flows under near-laminar conditions.