Regular Meander Path Model

Abstract

River flow in a meandering channel is characterized by the growth and decay of the transverse circulation which reaches a maximum near the apex and reverses its direction near the crossover. Based upon the mechanics of flow governing the spatial variation of transverse circulation, a mathematical model for regular meander paths is developed. For a specified arc angle or channel curvature at the apex, this model provides the shape as well as the scale of the meander path, from which other planimetric parameters such as arc length, wave length, and amplitude can be directly obtained. The arc length‐depth ratio is found to be an inverse function of channel roughness. A meander bend is constrained by a maximum curvature that it may develop under the state of equilibrium. Under such a curvature, the wave length‐depth ratio is directly related to channel width‐depth ratio and inversely related to channel roughness.