Numerical Analysis of Cavitation Dynamics on Free Ogee Spillways Using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) Method

Numerical Analysis of Cavitation Dynamics on Free Ogee Spillways Using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) Method | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Numerical Analysis of Cavitation Dynamics on Free Ogee Spillways Using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) Method Parvaneh Nikrou, Sajjad Pirboudaghi This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7963958/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Simulating complex hydraulic conditions, particularly two-phase flows over spillway chutes, can be achieved with high accuracy using three-dimensional numerical models. This study investigates the potential for vacuum generation and cavitation phenomena on the Aghchai Dam service spillway through numerical simulations conducted in Flow-3D. The analysis focuses on two specific flow rates, 4400 and 1065 cubic meters per second, as determined by experimental data. The Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is employed to accurately calculate the free surface flow. Simulation results at a discharge rate of 4400 cubic meters per second indicate a high likelihood of cavitation at critical locations, including the ogee curve and the angle transition in the chute channel. These areas require specific mitigation measures to prevent cavitation-induced damage. In contrast, at the lower flow rate of 1065 cubic meters per second, the risk of cavitation is minimal due to reduced flow velocity and the absence of flow separation from the bed. The numerical findings align closely with empirical observations, demonstrating the reliability of the simulation approach in predicting cavitation behavior. Civil Engineering Environmental Engineering Numerical Analysis Ogee Spillway Numerical Modeling Flow-3D Modeling Aghchai Dam VOF Method Cavitation Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7963958","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":535926264,"identity":"88382429-1294-4129-bc5b-e30cffcd3509","order_by":0,"name":"Parvaneh Nikrou","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA5UlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACxmYQKQdkNCAEeYjQYkyKFgZmEJHYgCKGT4u5dHOzcUXF4fT+2YdbN/6ouMNgcPwA44O3bbi1WM452Jx45szh3BnnEttu85x5xmBwJoHZcC4eLQY3EpsPNrYdzt3Aw9h2m7HtMIPBgQQ2aV4itKQbALXc/AnScv4B+29CWhKBWhJAWm7wgrTcSGBjxqfFckZis2HDmXTDGWcYQX45zCN542Gz5JxzuLWYS6Q/lmyosJbn72F/dvNHxWE5vvPJBz+8KcPjMHQBHtQ4JUbLKBgFo2AUjAIMAABDpVZPkdriWwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4330-1001","institution":"The University of Alabama","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Parvaneh","middleName":"","lastName":"Nikrou","suffix":""},{"id":535926265,"identity":"e9e6f3d6-c086-4084-b2f4-30a4cc7eb7c9","order_by":1,"name":"Sajjad Pirboudaghi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Urmia university of technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sajjad","middleName":"","lastName":"Pirboudaghi","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-10-28 02:38:29","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7963958/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7963958/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":95313722,"identity":"2ad6c004-6815-4f49-b796-83c4255651eb","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-11-06 15:51:55","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":927176,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"P2.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7963958/v1_covered_3bb2582b-d050-4b9b-9cc9-2b11b5b59410.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eNumerical Analysis of Cavitation Dynamics on Free Ogee Spillways Using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) Method\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Ogee Spillway, Numerical Modeling, Flow-3D Modeling, Aghchai Dam, VOF Method, Cavitation","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7963958/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7963958/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eSimulating complex hydraulic conditions, particularly two-phase flows over spillway chutes, can be achieved with high accuracy using three-dimensional numerical models. 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