Three-dimensional Numerical Evaluation of Hydraulic Efficiency and Discharge Coefficient in Grate Inlets

Floods are one of the causes of ground movement and displacement, and due to rapid urbanization and urban growth may occur more frequently than before. The characteristics of an urban drainage system can define the occurrence and extent of flooding, where catchment elements have a determining role. This document presents the numerical investigation of the hydraulic inlet efficiency and the discharge coefficient of seven types of grate inlets. The FLOW-3D® simulator is used to test the gratings at a full scale, under flow rates of Q = 24, 34.1, 44, 100, 200 and 300 L/s, preserving the configuration of the experimental prototype with longitudinal slopes of 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% and a fixed cross slope, for a total of 126 models. Based on the results, hydraulic inlet efficiency curves and discharge coefficients are constructed for each type and a longitudinal slope condition. The results are adjusted with empirical formulations proposed in other investigations, serving to verify the results of physical testing of prototypes.