Abstract
This paper presents results of laboratory investigations made in connection with hydroelectric power-plant designs, the problems encountered leading up to the establishing of a policy of conducting research, the method of testing, and comparisons of laboratory and field results. The object is to illustrate the many advantages of model investigations and to point out the deficiency of scientific knowledge incidental to power-plant design, with the hope that interest will be stimulated in pure-science research. Hydraulic research may be classified under two subdivisions: complex flows created by natural active and reactive forces, such as river channels, harbors, estuaries, tidal effects, etc., and, second, manufactured structures, such as spillways, canals, penstocks, hydraulic machines, etc., where the active and reactive forces should be definitely predicted by the designer. This paper deals with the latter, principally in connection with hydraulic turbines and their associated parts. Results will be shown where slight changes in shapes raise or lower the efficiency of hydraulic machinery as great as 1 per cent. No attempt is made to specifically account for the results obtained, but the apparent inconsistency of performance of water passages designed according to the limited knowledge of positive and negative acceleration will be evident to hydraulic engineers engaged in the utility field.
