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Guidelines for the hydraulic design of a combined fishway-canoe chute at weirs
Heidbreder, C. J. 2025. Guidelines for the Hydraulic Design of a Combined Fishway-Canoe Chute at Weirs. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/f8f5b381-2fdd-4bf3-b7ee-6dab4f528e97
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| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614135336828928 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Heidbreder, Caitlin Jane |
| author2 | Bosman, B. |
| author_browse | Bosman, B. Heidbreder, Caitlin Jane |
| author_facet | Bosman, B. Heidbreder, Caitlin Jane |
| author_sort | Heidbreder, Caitlin Jane |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Heidbreder, C. J. 2025. Guidelines for the Hydraulic Design of a Combined Fishway-Canoe Chute at Weirs. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/f8f5b381-2fdd-4bf3-b7ee-6dab4f528e97 |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132207 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:47:13.687Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132207 Guidelines for the hydraulic design of a combined fishway-canoe chute at weirs Heidbreder, Caitlin Jane Bosman, B. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering. Fishways -- Design and construction Hydraulic engineering Aquatic habitats -- Conservation Canoes and canoeing UCTS Heidbreder, C. J. 2025. Guidelines for the Hydraulic Design of a Combined Fishway-Canoe Chute at Weirs. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/f8f5b381-2fdd-4bf3-b7ee-6dab4f528e97 Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates the design and optimisation of a combined fishway-canoe chute, part of the Berg River Voëlvlei Augmentation Scheme (BRVAS) in the Western Cape, South Africa. This structure serves a dual purpose: facilitating safe canoe passage while supporting the migration of the endangered Breede-Berg River Whitefish (Pseudobarbus capensis). A 1:15 scale physical model was used to test and refine the hydraulic conditions to ensure suitability for both fish and canoeists. The hydraulic design of the BRVAS combined fishway-canoe chute was optimised by adopting a hybrid approach that combined physical modelling with 3D (three dimensional) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling using FLOW3D-HYDRO. The CFD model was successfully calibrated to replicate the existing physical model results, providing a validated basis for further design optimisation. Two design alternatives were then tested through CFD simulations to explore adjustments that could enhance both fish and canoe passage. Additionally, the research investigated the hydraulic requirements of fish to develop design guidelines for combined fishway-canoe chutes based on the specific requirements and flow conditions of fish. The numerical simulations assessed the hydraulic performance and flow patterns to ensure safe navigation for both fish and canoes. The optimised BRVAS design ensures that fish navigate along the sides of the chute where the baffles and resting pools are located, while canoes travel unobstructed down the centre of chute. The BRVAS combined fishway canoe chute design ensures that fish of a large size will be able to safely use the chute for migration purposes. When designing a combined fishway-canoe chute, it is important to consider the length of the canoes and ensure that the step width is at least as wide as the largest canoe traversing the chute. The BRVAS design accommodates canoes up to 1.5 m in length, aligning the step width with this requirement. However, for smaller fish species and low-flow conditions, a design with a more gradual slope may be preferable to improve accessibility. This research found that both alternative designs allow for larger fish passage, with Alternative Design 2, featuring a gentler slope and a longer step length, further enhancing accessibility for fish and canoes, up to 1.5 m. Although this alternative requires a longer chute, increasing construction costs, it provides a versatile solution that meets the needs of weaker swimming fish and larger canoes, making it a viable option for similar applications. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing ondersoek die ontwerp en optimisering van ‘n gekombineerde visweg-kano geut, wat deel vorm van die Berg Rivier Voëlvlei Aanvullingskema (BRVAS) in die Wes-kaap, Suid-Afrika. Hierdie struktuur dien ’n dubbele doel: om veilige kanovaarte te fasiliteer terwyl dit ook die migrasie van die bedreigde Breede-Berg Rivier Witvis (Pseudobarbus capensis) ondersteun. ’n Fisiese model op ‘n skaal 1:15 is gebruik om die hidrouliese toestande te toets en te verfyn om die geskiktheid vir beide visse en kanovaarders te verseker. Die hidrouliese ontwerp van die BRVAS gekombineerde visweg-kano geut is ge-optimiseer deur ’n hibriede benadering te volg wat fisiese modellering met 3D rekenaarsimulasie vir vloeidinamika modellering (CFD) in FLOW3D-HYDRO kombineer. Die CFD model is suksesvol gekalibreer om die resultate van die bestaande fisiese model na te boots, wat ’n geldige basis vir verdere ontwerpoptimisering bied. Twee alternatiewe ontwerpe is daarna deur CFD-simulasies getoets om aanpassings te ondersoek wat beide vis- en kanoverkeer kan verbeter. Verder het die navorsingsprojek die hidrouliese vereistes van verskillende visspesies ondersoek riglyne te ontwikkel vir die ontwerp van gekombineerde visweg-kano geute gebaseer op die spesifieke vereistes van visspesies en vloeitoestand wat geakkommodeer moet word. Die numeriese simulasies het die hidrouliese prestasie en vloeipatrone geëvalueer om veilige navigasie vir beide visse en kanovaarders te verseker. Die geoptimaliseerde BRVAS-ontwerp verseker dat visse aan die kante van die geut kan navigeer waar die keerwande en ruspoele geleë is, terwyl kanovaarders onbelemmerd in die middel van die geut vaar. Die BRVAS gekombineerde visweg-kano geut verseker dat visse van ’n groter grootte die geut veilig kan gebruik vir migrasiedoeleindes. By die ontwerp van ’n gekombineerde visweg-kano geut is dit belangrik om die lengte van die kano’s in ag te neem en te verseker dat die trapwydte ten minste so breed is soos die grootste kano wat die geut gebruik. Die BRVAS ontwerp akkommodeer kano's tot en met 1.5 m lank met dienooreenkomstige trapwydte wat aan hierdie vereiste voldoen. Vir kleiner vissoorte en lae-vloeitoestande kan ’n ontwerp met ’n meer geleidelike helling egter verkieslik wees om toeganklikheid te verbeter. Hierdie navorsing het bevind dat beide alternatiewe ontwerpe die migrasie van groter visse moontlik maak, met alternatiewe Ontwerp 2, wat ’n meer geleidelike helling en ’n langer trapwydte insluit, wat verdere toeganklikheid vir kleiner visse en kano’s tot 1.5 m verbeter. Alhoewel hierdie ontwerp ’n langer geut benodig wat konstruksiekoste verhoog, bied dit ’n veelsydige oplossing wat aan die behoeftes van sowel kleiner vissoorte as groter kano’s voldoen wat dit ’n lewensvatbare opsie vir soortgelyke toepassings maak. Masters 2025-05-29T13:15:18Z 2025-05-29T13:15:18Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132207 en Stellenbosch University xvii, 151 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Fishways -- Design and construction Hydraulic engineering Aquatic habitats -- Conservation Canoes and canoeing UCTS Heidbreder, Caitlin Jane Guidelines for the hydraulic design of a combined fishway-canoe chute at weirs |
| title | Guidelines for the hydraulic design of a combined fishway-canoe chute at weirs |
| title_full | Guidelines for the hydraulic design of a combined fishway-canoe chute at weirs |
| title_fullStr | Guidelines for the hydraulic design of a combined fishway-canoe chute at weirs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Guidelines for the hydraulic design of a combined fishway-canoe chute at weirs |
| title_short | Guidelines for the hydraulic design of a combined fishway-canoe chute at weirs |
| title_sort | guidelines for the hydraulic design of a combined fishway canoe chute at weirs |
| topic | Fishways -- Design and construction Hydraulic engineering Aquatic habitats -- Conservation Canoes and canoeing UCTS |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132207 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT heidbredercaitlinjane guidelinesforthehydraulicdesignofacombinedfishwaycanoechuteatweirs |