Indirect Velocity Measurement from Standing Waves in Rockbed Rivers
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 123, Issue 10
Abstract
Direct measurement of velocities and discharge in turbulent rockbed rivers is dangerous and often impracticable. Float measurements of surface velocity in sediment-free rockbed reaches of rivers are used to test the equation—due to Kennedy—that the mean velocity of a critical wave train is given by v= 1.2495√λ, where λ is the wavelength of the standing waves. Field data collected for wavelengths between 0.5 m and 7 m estimates surface velocity as about 2% significantly higher than the predicted mean velocity. It is concluded that the Kennedy equation successfully represents the mean velocity in rockbed rivers, which are essentially free from sediment, and that measuring the wavelengths of standing wave trains is an accurate and economical method of measuring mean velocity in the field. From estimated wave train width and computed critical depth, minimum discharge can be estimated for the section.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 123 • Issue 10 • October 1997
Pages: 918 - 921
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Oct 1, 1997
Published in print: Oct 1997
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