Modeling Bed Changes in Meandering Rivers Using Triangular Finite Elements
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 134, Issue 9
Abstract
A two-dimensional depth-averaged model was used for the simulation of scour and deposition in sand-bed meandering channels with fixed banks. The model employs unstructured meshes based on triangular elements and incorporates the effects of curvature-induced helical flow and transverse bed slope in the direction of bed-load sediment transport. The model was tested using experimental data from a well-known laboratory curved channel and a full scale meandering river. The numerical results agreed well with observed data, demonstrating that the model can reproduce the main features of bed profiles along meandering rivers, such as the formation of point bars and pools.
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Acknowledgments
Cynthia Bluteau and Dianne Stewart made the initial sensitivity tests of the numerical model for the Waal River, including the effects of sediment transport equations, calibration parameters, and mesh size (mesh independence tests).
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Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 134 • Issue 9 • September 2008
Pages: 1348 - 1352
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Mar 30, 2006
Accepted: Dec 28, 2007
Published online: Sep 1, 2008
Published in print: Sep 2008
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