Simulation of Bed Armoring in Alluvial Channels

Abstract

A numerical procedure for simulating the temporal variation of sediment‐transport rate and corresponding variation of bed‐material composition in a straight alluvial channel has been developed. The procedure is based on a simple model for the exchange of grain sizes between a surface and a subsurface layer of bed sediment together with a standard bed‐load function. Verification was made with laboratory data. The procedure should be a useful tool for estimates of the effect of alternative flow regulation measures on a channel bed's long term stability.