ABSTRACT
Despite recent progress in computational hydrodynamic modeling, physical studies on reduced scale models are still very important for a reliable evaluation of hydraulic performance of the structures. Recently Brazil has built several low head and high discharge hydroelectric plants, and these experiences show that the definition of the spillway capacity, evaluation of the effects of restitution runoff and evaluation of stream flow conditions in the generation circuit, etc are better developed by reduced model tests. Obviously the success of these studies is very sensitive to the calibration of the model bed. This article presents the three-dimensional physical model calibration tests of Xingu River, carried out for Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Plant (total capacity of 11,233 MW, currently under construction in Brazil). Due to the presence of multiple canals, islands, vegetation, critical controls, etc, a very careful calibration was required to achieve a good level of precision.
