Modeling Air Entrainment and Transport in a Hydraulic Jump using Two-Fluid RANS and DES Turbulence Models

Both RaNS (Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes) and DES (Detached Eddy Simulation) type turbulence models were used in conjunction with a two-fluid model of bubbly flow and a new subgrid air entrainment model to predict air entrainment and transport in a hydraulic jump. It was found that the void fraction profiles predicted by both methods are in agreement with the experimental data in the lower shear layer region, which contains the air bubbles entrained at the so-called toe of the hydraulic jump. In contrast, in the upper roller region behind the toe, the averaged results of the DES turbulence model gives accurate predictions while a RaNS turbulence model does not. This is because the DES turbulence model successfully captures the strong fluctuations on the free surface which allows it to entrain air near the top of the roller region. In contrast, RaNS type turbulence model results in a steady, smooth interface which fails to capture the wave-induced bubble sources in that region. To our knowledge, this study is the first successful quantitative numerical simulation of the overall void fraction profiles in a hydraulic jump.