Performance of aerators for dam spillways

This report describes laboratory tests on the performance of spillway aerators carried out as stage 2 of a research contract funded by the Department of the Environment. In stage 1, a comprehensive review was made of the available literature on cavitation and aeration in hydraulic structures; results of the review were presented in an earlier Hydraulics Research Report No SR 79. On the basis of this review it was decided to carry out a systematic experimental study of ramp aerators which are used to prevent cavitation damage on dam spillways by entraining air into the high velocity flows.