Fundamental study on the flow speed distribution around small traps

ABSTRACT:   This study measured the flow speed distribution using actual small traps to investigate the effects of their materials and shapes by analyzing the characteristics of the water flow patterns around them. Five types of trap (netted semi-cylinder shaped, wire semi-cylinder shaped, heart shaped, box shaped, and a cylinder shaped traps) constructed from different materials were used in the experiment. The flow speed distribution around each trap was measured in a flume tank. Flow speeds in the flume tank were 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 m/s. The webbing of the traps was different in shape and had various diameters of twine. The diameters of twine ranged from 0.55 to 1.00 mm. The relationship between the solidity ratio of the twine and flow distribution of the traps was also analyzed. For the netted semi-cylinder shaped and cylinder shaped traps, the area of reduced flow speed extended along the downstream area and its width slightly increased with distance from the trap's entrance. The heart shaped trap is shown to have the largest solidity ratio and this resulted in a high reduction of the flow speed downstream from the trap.