Modeling of River Channel Changes
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 110, Issue 2
Abstract
A computer‐based flood‐ and sediment‐routing model which simulates river channel changes is described together with its application in the case study of a disturbed river. Simulated results of this study are supported by field observations and measurements. This model incorporates the interrelated changes in channel bed profile, width, and lateral migration in channel bends. These changes reflect, in part, a river's adjustments in power expenditure. The interrelation of changes in channel bed profile and width is illustrated by a physical example and explained by the river's tendency to establish equal power expenditure along the channel. Such power transformation associated with river channel evolution tends to restore the dynamic equilibrium in sediment transport, that is, equal sediment load along the channel. The case study demonstrates that in the case of severely disturbed rivers, flood‐level computation using a fixed‐bed model may be quite inaccurate and improved accuracy can be provided by an erodible‐bed model.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Bagnold, R. A., “An Approach to Sediment Transport Problem from General Physics,” U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 422‐I, Washington, D.C., 1966, 137 pp.
2.
Bennett, J. S., and Nordin, C. F., “Simulation of Sediment Transport and Armouring,” Hydrological Sciences Bulletin , XXII, 4, Dec., 1977, pp. 555–569.
3.
Chang, H. H., and Hill, J. C., “Computer Modeling of Erodible Flood Channels and Deltas,” Journal of the Hydraulics Division, ASCE, Vol. 102, No. HY10, Oct., 1976, pp. 1461–1475.
4.
Chang, H. H., and Hill, J. C., “Minimum Stream Power for Rivers and Deltas,” Journal of the Hydraulics Division, ASCE, Vol. 103, No. HY12, Dec., 1977, pp. 1375–1389.
5.
Chang, H. H., “Mathematical Model for Erodible Channels,” Journal of the Hydraulics Division, ASCE, Vol. 108, No. HY5, May, 1982, pp. 678–689.
6.
Fread, D. L., “Numerical Properties of Implicit Four‐Point Finite Difference Equations of Unsteady Flow,” National Weather Service, NOAA, Technical Memorandum NWS Hydro‐18, Mar., 1974.
7.
“Flood Plain Changes During Major Floods,” Department of Sanitation and Flood Control, Community Services Agency, County of San Diego, Calif., 1979.
8.
Graf, W. H., Hydraulics of Sediment Transport, McGraw‐Hill Book Co., New York, N.Y., 1971, 509 pp.
9.
“HEC‐2 Water Surface Profiles, Users Manual,” Hydrologic Engineering Center, U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Nov., 1976.
10.
Kikkawa, H., Ikeda, S., and Kitagawa, A., “Flow and Bed Topography in Curved Open Channels,” Journal of the Hydraulics Division, ASCE, Vol. 102, No. HY9, Sept., 1976, pp. 1327–1342.
11.
Lane, E. W., “A Study of the Shape of Channels Formed by Natural Streams Flowing in Erodible Material,” Missouri River Division Sediment Series No. 9, U.S. Army Engineer Division, Missouri River, Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Neb., 1957.
12.
Langbein, W. B., and Leopold, L. B., “River Meanders, Theory of Minimum Variance,” U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 282‐B, 1957.
13.
Leopold, L. B., Wolman, M. G., and Miller, J. P., Fluvial Processes in Geomorphology, W. H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco, Calif., 1964, 522 pp.
14.
Rozovskii, I. L., “Flow of Water in Bends of Open Channels,” Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem, Israel, 1961 (available from Office of Technical Services, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C., PST Catalog No. 363, OTS 60‐51133).
15.
Schumm, S. A., The Fluvial System, John Wiley and Sons, New York, N.Y., 1977, 338 pp.
16.
“Storm Report, February 1980,” San Diego County Flood Control District, San Diego, Calif., 1980, 26 pp.
17.
Thorne, C. R., “Processes and Mechanisms of River Bank Erosion,” Gravel‐Bed Rivers, R. D. Hey, J. C. Bathurst, and C. R. Thorne, eds., John Wiley and Sons, New York, N.Y., 1982, pp. 227–271.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 110 • Issue 2 • February 1984
Pages: 157 - 172
Copyright
Copyright © 1984 ASCE.
History
Published online: Feb 1, 1984
Published in print: Feb 1984
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.