Friction-Dominated Sluice Gate Jamming in Submerged Discharge

Abstract

Sluice gate jamming occurs simultaneously during gate closure, seriously jeopardizing the safe operation of irrigation and drainage systems. This paper aims to identify the primary causes of gate jamming in submerged discharge by the combination of model tests and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, and analyzes the relationship between gate jamming and hoisting force. The results indicated that the high friction coefficient is a major reason for the nonclosure of a sluice gate under the premise of appropriate gate geometry. The permissible friction coefficient for a sluice in submerged discharge is influenced by the submerged weight, available areas of the panel and beam, and water level difference. An increase in the friction coefficient induces a static–dynamic friction transition during gate descent, causing the hoisting force to increase instantaneously and oscillate repeatedly. Increasing the counterweight or adding a convex lip facilitates gate closure but does not contribute to the reduction of hoisting force. Reducing the friction coefficient of the support structure and employing a stop log gate not only promote gate closure but also effectively mitigate hoisting force.