Geometric Modification of Piano Key Weirs to Enhance Hydraulic Performance and Discharge Capacity

Article Engineering, Civil

Influence of Piano Key Weir Crest Shapes on Flow Characteristics, Scale Effects, and Energy Dissipation for In-Channel Application

Xiaoyang Shen et al.

Summary: Due to their small footprint and efficient hydraulic performance, piano key weirs (PKWs) have gained attention in the past two decades. The crest shape is a crucial factor influencing the hydraulic characteristics of a PKW. This study investigates the effects of different crest configurations on flow characteristics, energy dissipation, and scale effects of a PKW. The results indicate that crest shape significantly affects nappe trajectory and hydraulic characteristics. Empirical equations were developed to predict discharge coefficients and downstream residual energies for practical design.

JOURNAL OF HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (2023)

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Article Environmental Sciences

3D Printing Technique for Experimental Modeling of Hydraulic Structures: Exemplary Scaled Weir Models

Mario Oertel et al.

Summary: This study evaluates the feasibility of applying 3D printing to fabricate scaled hydraulic experimental models for laboratory use. The results show that properly 3D printed models are more cost- and time-effective during the fabrication process and can deliver accurate results. The layer height of 3D printed models is found to be a critical parameter influencing model quality, and surface irregularities may affect experimental results.

WATER (2022)

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Article Engineering, Civil

Comparative Study of Nonsymmetrical Trapezoidal and Rectangular Piano Key Weirs with Varying Key Width Ratios

Xiaoyang Shen et al.

Summary: The study found that optimizing the key width ratio can significantly increase the discharge capacity of trapezoidal piano key weirs (TPKW), which are more efficient at high relative heads compared to rectangular PKWs. However, they are less efficient at low relative heads due to the shorter total crest length. The optimal key width ratio ranges are likely to be within 1.30 to 1.57 for TPKW and 1.50 to 1.77 for RPKW.

JOURNAL OF HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (2021)

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Article Engineering, Civil