Case Study: Movable Bed Model Scaling for Bed Load Sediment Exclusion at Intake Structure on Rio Grande

Abstract

Results of a laboratory modeling study are presented for excluding bed load sediment from a diversion/intake structure on the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico. To achieve model similitude, crushed coal was used to model the prototype sediment in a 1:24 scaled model with an exaggerated slope such that shear force is adequately modeled. The Shields parameters and critical Shields parameters were matched between the prototype and the model, resulting in similar grain Reynolds numbers. Twenty-four tests, where guiding walls, submerged vanes, and/or the angle of the intake bay were altered, were conducted for a single river and diversion flow rate to develop the best performing sediment exclusion system at the intake structure. Independent vanes with 45° rotated intake bays were recommended for the most effective sediment exclusion at the intake structure.