Shear‐Induced Secondary Currents in Channel Flows

Abstract

A simple, analytical model is proposed for the description of flow and stress characteristics in an open-channel flow with nonuniform distribution of bed-shear stress. The model describes the relationship between the secondary current and the transverse variation in bed-shear stress. The streamwise velocity profile is obtained by superposition of a power law and a second-order defect law. The model simulates the flow behavior measured in a laboratory channel with artificially induced transverse variation of shear velocity.