Open Access

ARTICLE

Numerical Investigation of Load Generation in U-Shaped Aqueducts under Lateral Excitation: Part I—First-Order Resonant Sloshing

Yang Dou¹, Hao Qin¹, Yuzhi Zhang^1,2, Ning Wang¹, Haiqing Liu^3,4, Wanli Yang^1,2,4,*

1 Department of Bridge Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
2 Aseismic Engineering Technology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610031, China
3 Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Coal Resources Green Mining, Ministry of Education, Urumqi, 830023, China
4 Xinjiang Institute of Engineering, Urumqi, 860023, China

* Corresponding Author: Wanli Yang. Email:

Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing 2025, 21(11), 2673-2700. https://doi.org/10.32604/fdmp.2025.069719

Received 29 June 2025; Accepted 09 October 2025; Issue published 01 December 2025

Abstract

In recent years, tuned liquid dampers (TLDs) have attracted significant research interest; however, overall progress has been limited due to insufficient understanding of the mechanisms governing sloshing-induced loads. In particular, it remains unclear whether the water in aqueducts—common water-diversion structures in many countries—can serve as an effective TLD. This study investigates the generation mechanisms of sloshing loads during the first-order transverse resonance of water in a U-shaped aqueduct using a two-dimensional (2D) numerical model. The results reveal that, at the equilibrium position, the free surface difference between the left and right walls, the horizontal force on the aqueduct, and the fluctuating component of the vertical force all reach their maxima, with energy predominantly stored as potential energy. At the maximum displacement position, the surface difference and horizontal force drop to zero, while the fluctuating vertical force attains its minimum and energy shifts primarily to kinetic form. At this stage, static pressure is governed solely by the vertical convective acceleration, whereas at equilibrium it is closely linked to both the free surface difference and vertical local acceleration of the water. This dynamic energy exchange generates vertical force oscillations even when the free surface appears nearly symmetric.

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Keywords

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