ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Investigation of the Effect of Downstream
Slope and Rockfill Materials on Flow Regimes
over Gabion Stepped Weirs
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Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Babylon, Hillah, Babylon 51001, Iraq
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Department of Environment Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Babylon, Hillah, Babylon 51001, Iraq
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School of Engineering, Faculty of Science Engineering & Built Environment, Deakin University,
75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3220, Australia
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Department of Environment Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Babylon, Babylon 51001, Iraq
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Research and Studies Unit, Al-Mustaqbal University College, 51001, Babylon, Iraq
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Building and Construction Techniques Engineering, Al-Mustaqbal University College, 51001, Babylon, Iraq
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Department of Civil Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Lulea University of Technology,
SE-971 87 Lulea
Submission date: 2022-11-07
Final revision date: 2023-01-09
Acceptance date: 2023-02-25
Online publication date: 2023-06-30
Publication date: 2023-07-21
Corresponding author
Nadhir Al-Ansari
Lulea University of Technology, Dept. Civil, Environmental and natural Resources E, 971 87, Lulea, Sweden
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(4):3481-3490
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ABSTRACT
It is important to determine the limits of flow regimes in the design of stepped weirs because
of the hydraulic performance of each regime. The present study investigates the effect of downstream
slope and rock fill materials on flow regimes in gabion stepped weirs. Nine physical models of gabion
weirs were used in the experiments. The models’ downstream slopes ranged from 1:05 to 1:4 V:H.
In addition, two types of rockfill materials: crushed stone of 0.42 porosity and rounded gravel of
0.38 porosity were used to study the effect of rockfill materials on flow regimes. The nominal size
of the crushed stone was (37.5 mm - 13.2 mm) D50 = 23 mm and the nominal size of the rounded
gravel was (26.5 mm - 13.2 mm) D50 = 16 mm. Each model has been tested with ten runs for discharge
per unit width ranging (from 0.006 to 0.105 m3/sec. m) to cover all flow conditions and flow regimes.
The onset of each flow regime for all physical models has been observed. The experimental data of the
gabion stepped weirs have been used to develop equations to estimate the onset of each flow regime.
The coefficient of correlation (R) of the developed equations ranged between 0.95 to 0.97. The results
indicated on the steeper downstream slope models (1:0.5, 1:0.83), there is interference between the
nappe and transition flow regimes. The nappe flow regime has not appeared on all steps at the same time. Moreover, the shape and size of the rockfill materials have an insignificant effect on flow regimes,
especially at a high flow rate.