Longitudinal Dispersion Coefficient in Straight Rivers

Abstract

An analytical method is developed to determine the longitudinal dispersion coefficient in Fischer's triple integral expression for natural rivers. The method is based on the hydraulic geometry relationship for stable rivers and on the assumption that the uniform-flow formula is valid for local depth-averaged variables. For straight alluvial rivers, a new transverse profile equation for channel shape and local flow depth is derived and then the lateral distribution of the deviation of the local velocity from the cross-sectionally averaged value is determined. The suggested expression for the transverse mixing coefficient equation and the direct integration of Fischer's triple integral are employed to determine a new theoretical equation for the longitudinal dispersion coefficient. By comparing with 73 sets of field data and the equations proposed by other investigators, it is shown that the derived equation containing the improved transverse mixing coefficient predicts the longitudinal dispersion coefficient of natural rivers more accurately.