Laboratory Study of Bendway Weirs as a Bank Erosion Countermeasure
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 142, Issue 6
Abstract
Bendway weirs are linear structures similar to spurs but designed to be overtopped by typical streamflows, and have recently attracted attention as an environmentally sensitive means of protecting the outer banks of stream bends. A laboratory study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of these type of structures, constructed following FHWA (U.S. Federal Highway Administration) design-manual guidelines, in protecting the outer bank of a 90° bend in a narrow channel with both erodible bed and banks. Experiments were performed at a single nominal (initial) depth, and so characterized by a single (initial) ratio of radius of curvature to top width of 3.3, with and without a field of five weirs. Measurements of erodible boundary elevations as well as the magnitudes of the time-averaged point horizontal velocities at various cross sections were taken. Although a definite overall deflective effect by the weirs was observed, the outer bank remained susceptible to significant erosion even in the presence of weirs. Effects of increased velocities and increased weir heights, with other conditions held constant, were also examined. For the weir-channel configuration and flow conditions studied, increased velocities tended to be associated with increased rates of erosion, while higher (relative to the depth) weirs gave some added local protection, but could also result in increased overall erosion at certain channel sections.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Joint Transportation Research Program administered by the Indiana Department of Transportation and Purdue University. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein, and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the sponsoring organizations. These contents do not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
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Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 142 • Issue 6 • June 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 31, 2013
Accepted: Oct 13, 2015
Published online: Feb 23, 2016
Published in print: Jun 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Jul 23, 2016
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