Roughness coefficient and its uncertainty in gravel-bed river

Manning's roughness coefficient was estimated for a gravel-bed river reach using field measurements of water level and discharge,and the applicability of various methods used for estimation of the roughness coefficient was evaluated.Results show that the roughness coefficient tends to decrease with increasing discharge and water depth,and over a certain range it appears to remain constant.Comparison of roughness coefficients calculated by field measurement data with those estimated by other methods shows that,although the field-measured values provide approximate roughness coefficients for relatively large discharge,there seems to be rather high uncertainty due to the difference in resultant values.For this reason,uncertainty related to the roughness coefficient was analyzed in terms of change in computed variables.On average,a 20%increase of the roughness coefficient causes a 7% increase in the water depth and an 8% decrease in velocity,but there may be about a 15% increase in the water depth and an equivalent decrease in velocity for certain cross-sections in the study reach.Finally,the validity of estimated roughness coefficient based on field measurements was examined.A 10% error in discharge measurement may lead to more than 10% uncertainty in roughness coefficient estimation,but corresponding uncertainty in computed water depth and velocity is reduced to approximately 5%.Conversely,the necessity for roughness coefficient estimation by field measurement is confirmed.     

Flow resistance in a compound gravel-bed bend

In this paper, the effect of a gravel-bed in a compound bend (similar to sinusoidal top view) of a natural river (Zayandehrud River flowing through Isfahan, Iran) has been investigated for flow resistance analysis, measuring the velocity with a micro current meter. The data were analysed and the following observations were made. In a compound bend, the law of the wall can be valid for up to 66% of the flow depth from the bed. The parabolic law is the most effective method for the determination of shear velocity. Based on the existing criteria for verifying the equilibrium boundary layer, the flow cannot be in equilibrium. The shear stress distribution and the sediment transport parameters have considerable influence on resistance to flow. Froude number and the flow depth relative to the representative gravel size have little effect on the flow resistance estimation.     

Bankfull shear velocity predicts embeddedness and silt cover in gravel streambeds

Excess fine sediment (<2 mm) deposition on gravel streambeds can degrade habitat quality for stream biota. Two measures of fine sediment deposition include embeddedness and silt cover (<62.5 μm). Embeddedness measures fine sediment in interstitial pore spaces, whereas silt cover, primarily deposited during low flows, measures fine sediment draped on the streambed's surface. Here, we demonstrate that a baseline level of embeddedness and a maximum value of silt cover can be predicted from bankfull shear velocity, which can be estimated from river channel and streamflow characteristics, independently of knowing the sediment supply. We derive an equation for bankfull shear velocity that only requires knowing bankfull flow, channel width, and channel slope, which can be readily obtained in the United States from freely available, remotely sensed data. We apply this methodology to data collected at 30 sites in the Piedmont region of Virginia and North Carolina. This work is an important step in developing statistical models of stream ecosystems in which geophysical variables can predict embeddedness and silt cover, which commonly limit biotic assemblages.     

Some new data and formulas for resistance flow in fluvial open channels

Flow resistance in fluvial open channels, especially in steep gravel-bed channels, still presents challenges to researchers and engineers.This article presents some new data from both the flume experiments and field measurements.Data analysis using the divided hydraulic radius approach shows that the relative roughness plays a significant role in the bed form resistance.A new set of formulas that incorporate the relative roughness are proposed.As compared with several existing formulas, the proposed formulas can be used to better estimate the bed form resistance.     

Influence of decelerating flow on incipient motion of a gravel-bed stream

An experimental study on incipient motion of gravel-bed streams under steady-decelerating flow is presented. Experiments were carried out in a flume with two median grain sizes, d ₅₀ = 16.7 mm for a fixed-bed case and d ₅₀ = 8 mm for a mobile bed case. In addition, an effort is made to determine a simplified method for the estimation of bed shear stress in decelerating flow over fixed and mobile beds for use in field situations. From the observation of eleven fixed-bed and nine mobile-bed velocity profiles, it is revealed that the parabolic law method (PLM) and the Reynolds stress method are comparable for estimation of shear velocity in general. Also, the results show that the shear stress distribution adopts a convex form over fixed and mobile beds. Due to this form the critical Shields parameter value for decelerating flow is less than the reported values in literature. This paper supports Buffington & Montgomery (1997) statement that less emphasis should be given on choosing a universal shields parameter, and more emphasis should be given on choosing defendable values based on flow structure.     

卵石床面清水冲刷稳定形态及其水流结构试验研究

由于测试手段的局限性,对粗化稳定的水流结构,尤其是河床粗化层不断调整的水流结构变化研究较为缺乏。借用多普勒声速仪 (SontecADV)和尼康全站仪(NikonDTM),测试了不同水沙组合卵石床面,在清水冲刷条件下的稳定形态及其水流结构。试验表明：在相近的水流条件下,粗化稳定后粗颗粒在床面的暴露程度和排列位置受原始铺沙与前期粗化程度的影响。清水冲刷卵石推移质输沙过程、稳定形态及其相应的水流结构具有较强的相互作用关系。在一定的水沙、床面形态条件下,平均流速分布沿相对水深的变化可由单一的对数分布转变为S形曲线,且其流速极值转捩位置也受水沙及床面形态条件的影响。     

卵石河流的时均流速和悬沙浓度垂线分布

在我国西南地区的沙卵石河流上修建水电站时,合理布设各进水口以防止淤堵和粗泥沙过机至关重要,其控制参数为水流的时均流速和悬移质浓度的垂线分布。本文根据都江堰二王庙站的实测资料,分析了时均流速和悬移质浓度沿垂线的分布,主要结论为:时均流速符合对数分布公式,卡门常数的平均值为0.40,当采用Ks=1.75D90时,积分常数B=8.54。悬移质泥沙的垂线分布符合Rouse公式,悬浮指数与理论值基本一致。     

Assessing channel geometry in response to land use disturbance in a low-relief,glacially conditioned setting

Bankfull stage, the highest flow elevation contained by a river channel before overbank flooding occurs, is the presumed threshold for channel morphological change. At bankfull, the channel boundary experiences the highest shear stress, producing somewhat predictable hydraulic relationships and a cross-sectional form. However, land use and glacial conditioning can profoundly impact a channel's geomorphic responses. Two common methods characterize bankfull flow: one based on flow frequency and other based on channel form. This study considers a simplified approach to identify upstream land use relative to estimates of bankfull flow versus a channel's geometric form. The approach compares archived geomorphic surveys of 140 river reaches in southern Ontario, Canada, to 2-year flood quantiles modelled from historical flood data of 207 gauge stations. Flood frequency analysis determines that annual maximum series (AMS) datasets, fitted to optimized probabilistic distributions, underestimate discharge for low-magnitude, high-frequency flood events compared to partial duration series (PDS) datasets. For smaller drainage areas (<100 km²) associated with an extensive agricultural activity and/or urbanization, the estimates of bankfull discharge (Q_bf) generated by cross-sectional channel geometry are greater than the gauge-derived Q₂ values. Channels impacted by high levels of upstream land use disturbance show statistically significant lower width-to-depth ratios (p < 0.001) and a trend towards a finer D₅₀ bed material, suggesting enhanced surface runoff delivering more mobile finer sediments and channel confinement or incision. This research quantifies the formative bankfull stage to better understand the link between land use and a channel's ‘natural’ hydrogeomorphic response in a low-relief, glacially conditioned setting.