EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF CUTTER HEAD DREDGING FLOWS

To add to understanding of complex flows in dredging cutter heads an experimental and numerical investigation of these flows was conducted. As a first step in the investigation of the mixture flow in a complete cutter head that actually cuts the soil, the simplified case of the flow of water in a freely rotating cutter head is considered here. Using stationary acoustic doppler velocimetry, 3-D velocity fields inside a cutter head have been measured. Finite-element computations of the velocity field were also performed, using the potential flow model. These experimental and numerical investigations clarify the role of the angular velocity of the cutter head and the suction flow rate in the suction pipe that is generated by the dredge pump. Depending on a nondimensional flow number, 3 flow regimes are observed in the computations. For low flow numbers, the rotation of the cutter head dominates the flow, and an outward flow occurs near the cutter ring. For high flow numbers, the suction flow dominates the flow, and an inward flow exists around the entire contour of the cutter head. For the flow number corresponding to the theoretical hydraulic design condition, there is a balance between the flows induced by rotation and suction. The measured and computed velocity fields have been compared, showing good qualitative agreement and reasonable quantitative agreement.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0733950X
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Dekker, M A
  • Kruyt, N P
  • den Burger, M
  • Vlasblom, W J
• Publication Date: 2003-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 203-209
• Serial:
  • Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering
  • Volume: 129
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-950X
  • EISSN: 1943-5460
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/jwped5

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cutting (Earthwork); Dredging; Environmental protection; Excavation and tunneling; Finite element method; Soil suction
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cutter heads; Soil transport
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Marine Transportation; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00961764
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 29 2003 12:00AM