Author(s): Yi Rong; Alessandro Stocchino
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Keywords: No keywords
Abstract: A great variety of natural water streams and artificial channels can be classified as ‘compound channels’ since their cross-stream section can be assumed to be characterized by a main channel and shallow floodplains. The main agents of transport of momentum and mass between the main channel and the floodplains are found to be the quasi-two-dimensional (2D) macro-vortices (with vertical axes) generated at the transition region, where there is an intense generation of vorticity owing to the flow depth jump. This mechanism is further complicated by the presence of vegetation with different characteristics (species, shape, rigidity and spatial distribution) on the lateral floodplains. Understanding the mass transport pattern and evaluating hydraulic characteristics under different conditions are essential to the protection of the open compound channel ecosystem.
Year: 2022