Influence of Channel Width on Bed Load Transport Capacity
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 113, Issue 12
Abstract
The influence of channel width on bedload capacity in river reaches of given slope, water discharge, and channel‐bed material is examined. The view that transport capacity is a decreasing function of width is shown to be dependent upon an invalid premise. A contrary view—that transport capacity increases as channel width increases—is also considered. Conclusions based on the second view are shown to be inconsistent with transport formulas or are restricted to channels at a near‐threshold state. The existence of an optimum width that maximizes capacity is demonstrated. This is a consequence of the nature of the relationship between bedload transport rates and flow intensity (notably a threshold condition) and of the relationship between flow resistance and depth. Expressions are derived for the optimum channel width and are shown to predict Gilbert's flume observations. Problems are considered in applying this approach to natural channels.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Ackers, P., and White, W. R. (1973). “Sediment transport: new approach and analysis.” J. Hydr. Div., ASCE, 99(HY11) 2041–2060.
2.
Bagnold, R. A. (1977). “Bedload transport by natural rivers.” Water Resour. Res. 13(2), 303–312.
3.
Bagnold, R. A. (1980). “An empirical correlation of bedload transport rate in flumes and natural rivers.” Proc. Roy. Soc., London, England, Ser. A. v. 372, 453–473.
4.
Carson, M. A. (1986). Transport of gravel in alluvial channels: a review with special reference to the Canterbury Plains, New Zealand. North Canterbury Catchment and Regional Water Board, Christchurch, New Zealand.
5.
Carson, M. A. (1988). “Measures of flow intensity as predictors of bed load.” J. Hydr. Engrg., in press.
6.
Chang, H. H. (1979). “Geometry of rivers in regime.” J. Hydr. Div., ASCE, 105(HY6), 691–706.
7.
Chang, H. H. (1980a). “Stable alluvial canal design.” J. Hydr. Div., ASCE, 106(HY5), 873–891.
8.
Chang, H. H. (1980b). “Geometry of gravel streams.” J. Hydr. Div., ASCE, 106(HY9), 1443–1456.
9.
Duboys, P. (1879). “Etudes du regime du Rhone et l'action exercee par les eaux sur un lit a fond de graviers indefiniment affouillable.” Annales Des Ponts et Chaussees, Ser. 5, v. 18, 141–195.
10.
Engelund, F., and Hansen, E. (1967). A monograph on sediment transport in alluvial channels. Teknisk Vorlag, Copenhagen, Denmark.
11.
Ferguson, R. I. (1986). “Hydraulics and hydraulic geometry.” Progress in Physical Geography, 10(1), 1–31.
12.
Gilbert, G. K. (1914). “The transportation of debris by running water.” U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 86, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
13.
Griffiths, G. A. (1984). “Extremal hypotheses for river regime: an illusion of progress.” Water Resour. Res., 20(1), 113–118.
14.
Griffiths, G. A. (1986). Reply to Comment by C. C. S. Song and C. T. Yang on “Extremal Hypotheses for River Regime: An Illusion of Progress.” Water Resour. Res., 22(6), 995–996.
15.
Henderson, F. M. (1966). Open channel flow. MacMillan Publishing Co., New York, N.Y.
16.
Kirkby, M. J. (1977). “Maximum sediment efficiency as a criterion for alluvial channels.” River Channel Changes K. J. Gregory, ed., John Wiley and Son, Chichester, U.K., 429–442.
17.
Lacey, G. (1929). “Stable channels in alluvium.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Engrs, v. 229, 259–292.
18.
Meyer‐Peter, E., and Muller, R. (1948). “Formulas for bedload transport.” Proc., Int. Ass. Hydraulic Structures Research, Stockholm, Sweden, Vol. 2, 39–64.
19.
Mosley, M. P. (1982). “Analysis of the effect of changing discharge on channel morphology and instream uses in a braided river, Ohau R., New Zealand.” Water Resour. Res., 128(4), 800–812.
20.
Nevins, T. H. F. (1969). “River‐training: the single‐thread channel.” New Zealand Engrg., 15, Dec., 367–373.
21.
Nordin, C. F., and McQuivey, R. S. (1971). “Suspended load.” River Mechanics, Vol. I, H. W. Shen, ed., Fort Collins, Colo., 12.1–12.31.
22.
Parker, G. (1978). “Self‐formed straight rivers with equilibrium banks and mobile bed; Part 2. The gravel river.” J. Fluid Mech., 89(1), 127–146.
23.
Parker, G. (1979). “Hydraulic geometry of active gravel rivers.” J. Hydr. Div., ASCE, 105(9), 1185–1201.
24.
Pascoe, L. N. (1974). The training of braided shingle rivers into a single‐thread channel with special reference to the middle reach of the Wairua River. Marlborough Catchment Publication, Blenheim, New Zealand.
25.
Peterson, A. W., and Howells, R. F. (1973). “A compendium of solids transport data for mobile boundary channels.” Rept. HY1973‐ST3, Department of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
26.
Ramette, M. (1979). “Une approche rationnelle de le morphologie fluviale.” La Houille Blanche, 8(2), 491–498.
27.
Shen, H. W. (1971). “Total sediment load.” River Mechanics, Vol. I, H. W. Shen, ed., Fort Collins, Colo., 13.1–13.26.
28.
White, W. R., Bettess, R., and Paris, E. (1982). “Analytical approach to river regime.” J. Hydr. Div., ASCE, 108(HY10), 1179–1193.
29.
White, W. R., Paris, E., and Bettess, R. (1980). “The frictional characteristics of alluvial streams: a new approach.” Proc. Instn. Civil Engrs, Part 2, 69(2), 737–750.
30.
Williams, G. P. (1967). “Flume experiments on the transport of a coarse sand.” U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 562‐B, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 113 • Issue 12 • December 1987
Pages: 1489 - 1508
Copyright
Copyright © 1987 ASCE.
History
Published online: Dec 1, 1987
Published in print: Dec 1987
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.