Nicholas Koutsunis, of the Corps’ Huntington District, became aware of the ERDC University (ERDC-U) program during a visit to ERDC regarding the Bluestone Dam physical model study. Management within the Dam Safety Modification Mandatory Center of Expertise (DSMMCX) encouraged Koutsunis to apply to the program to develop a working relationship with ERDC researchers and to bridge the gap between research and streamlining the process for implementing Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) modeling support the Dam and Levee Safety communities of practice.
Koutsunis, a hydraulic engineer in the DSMMCX, use both one-dimensional and two-dimensional modeling techniques to execute dam safety modifications within USACE. In the area of dam safety, USACE has identified the need for three-dimensional CFD modeling to assess and analyze new and existing hydraulic structures across the USACE portfolio. ERDC-U was a perfect fit for Koutsunis, since ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) has the CFD expertise necessary to implement CFD modeling on dam safety modification projects within USACE. The program presented him the opportunity to further develop the necessary groundwork for using CFD modeling across the USACE dam and levee portfolio.
In order for him to accomplish his goals, Koutsunis worked with Mentor Allen Hammack, ERDC CHL, to learn the techniques required to use three-dimensional, Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes simulations, with special emphasis on free-surface simulations. These techniques were applied to an analysis of the flows downstream of the Bluestone Dam outlet structures. This analysis included geometry preparation, mesh development, and post-processing of simulation output using physical model data for validating the CFD model. The final analysis results included operational considerations at the dam and near-boundary conditions in the areas of interest.
Looking ahead, Koutsunis anticipates he will “continue to collaborate with ERDC on future projects.” He understands the importance and benefits derived in the working relationship between the DSMMCX and ERDC in accomplishing the USACE Dam Safety mission.