Stepped spillway Downstream of a Piano Key Weir - Critical length for uniform flow

Recent researches showed the rapid aeration of the flow downstream of piano key weirs. This could be related to the specific geometric features of the structure, creating several interacting flows and jets downstream. In order to validate this assumption, an experimental research has been carried out at the Laboratory of Engineering Hydraulics, University of Liège. The main objective of the study was to an-alyze the energy dissipation occurring in skimming flow conditions on a stepped spillway downstream of a piano key weir (PKW). Comparison with energy dissipation on a stepped spillway downstream of a standard ogee crested weir has been performed. An indirect method has been used to determine the resid-ual energy at the spillway toe. The results show that uniform flow conditions are reached faster on a stepped spillway downstream of a PWK compared to the length needed downstream of a standard ogee crested weir. Extrapolation of the results to prototype flow conditions is also discussed with regards to scale effects influence.