Author(s): Jorge D. Abad

Linked Author(s): Jorge D. Abad

Keywords: River meandering evolution; Kinoshita-generated bends; CFD modeling; And Turbulence models

Abstract: River planform evolution is described by a wide variety of key parameters such as flow conditions, sediment size distribution, vegetation, geological constrains, among others. The interactions of these key parameters result in a complex system, which can not be completely described yet even with the advance of computational, experimental and field resources. Several laboratory experiments have dealt with periodic symmetric channel configurations and have described the importance of high-amplitude and high-curvature bends in terms of flow structure and sediment redistribution. However, the effects of asymmetric configurations, commonly found in rivers on flow structure and sediment patterns are not completely understood. This study attempts to provide some insight into this topic regarding the hydrodynamic description of the flow. Four meandering channels are simulated for different sinuosities (= 20θ °, = 50θ °, = 90θ ° and = 100θ °) by using an asymmetric Kinoshita-type planform configuration. Sediment transport is not considered in this first stage of the study; thus, the meandering channels have been described topographically by using an empirical formulation based on local curvature and channel forming discharge. A state-of-the-art three-dimensional CFD model is applied herein for describing the hydrodynamic structure in Kinoshita bends and discussions about implications for sediment transport and river evolution are presented.

DOI:

Year: 2005