98 / 2024-01-19 11:32:23

Numerical studies of the flow resistance due to attachment of Limnoperna fortunei (Golden Mussel)

flow resistance,manning’s coefficient,OpenFOAM,Limnoperna fortunei

Limnoperna fortunei (Golden Mussel), a rapidly spreading freshwater mussel with high-density attachment, has posed a major challenge to the operation of water transfer projects. Although many studies have quantified the biofouling caused by Limnoperna fortunei and proposed measures to prevent and control it, the physical insight of the flow resistance caused by the Limnoperna fortunei attachment remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, three-dimensional numerical simulations based on OpenFOAM were used to evaluate the effects of the attachment on the flow field, in terms of the variations in attachment densities, flow velocities, and adult mussel sizes. The numerical results were validated by integrating the boundary layer theory and experimental findings. The result indicated that Manning roughness coefficient increased with the density when the density was low, and tended to remain unchanged when the density became higher. The present study will provide a basis for further investigation of flow resistance at the engineering scale and provide theoretical support for controlling the problem of attachment.