Increase of Spillway Discharge by Labyrinth Weir

The spillway type of small and midsize dams in Korea is almost overflow weir. To examine flood control capacity of overflow spillway, FLOW-3D was applied to Daesuho dam and analysis was focused on the discharge of dam spillway by changing weir shape. Overflow phases and discharges of linear labyrinth weir and curved labyrinth weir were compared with those of existing linear ogee weir. Hydraulic model experiment was performed to verify numerical result. Verification results showed that overflow behaviors and flow characteristics in the side channel by hydraulic model experiment and numerical simulation are well matched, and water surface elevation at side wall coincides with each other. When the reservoir elevation was increased up to design flood level, in case of the linear ogee weir the flow over the crest ran through smoothly in the side channel, whereas in cases of linear labyrinth weir and curved labyrinth weirs, the flow discharge was increased by 40 cms, and the flow over the weir crest, rotating counter-clockwise, was submerged in the side channel. The results of the water level-discharge curve revealed that labyrinth weir can increase discharge by 71% compared to the discharge of linear ogee weir at low reservoir elevation since it can have longer effective length. But as water surface elevation rises, the slope of water level-discharge curve of labyrinth weir becomes milder by submergence and nappe interference in the side channel.