Physical modelling of pressurized flushing of non-cohesive sediment using lightweight material

In this study, pressurized flushing of non-cohesive reservoir sediment through a bottom orifice was simulated in laboratory experiments using lightweight material as model sediment. The experiments were carried out by varying flushing discharge, reservoir water level, thickness of sediment deposit layer and opening height of bottom orifice. The volumes of flushing cones formed with lightweight material were compared with volumes calculated using empirical relations proposed by past studies. The good trend observed in variation of dimensionless flushing cone volume against different dimensionless parameters justified the possibility of using the lightweight material as model sediment.