Author(s): Donatella Termini

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: Rivers; Hydrodynamics; Flexible vegetation; Heterogeneity; Shear layer

Abstract: Understanding flow characteristics and dispersion processes in partially vegetated rivers is especially important with respect to the identification of the water quality and the ecosystem conditions. This paper focuses on highly curved channels and examines how the presence of square patches of flexible submerged vegetation on the bed affects flow patterns. The analysis is conducted with the aid of data collected in a large amplitude meandering flume constructed at the Department of Engineering – University of Palermo (Italy). In particular, the analysis examines the apex area of the flume to investigate the effect of a patchily-vegetated bed on the mean streamwise flow velocity distribution and on the mixing-layer formation in both vertical and horizontal planes.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64697/iahr.proc.ise2026.abs.222

Year: 2026