Flow and Velocity Distribution in Meandering Compound Channels

Abstract

An investigation of flow and velocity distribution in meandering compound channels with over bank flow is described. Equations concerning the three-dimensional variation of longitudinal, transverse, and vertical velocity in the main channel and floodplain of compound section in terms of channel parameters are presented. The flow and velocity distributions in meandering compound channels are strongly governed by interaction between flow in the main channel and that in the floodplain. The proposed equations take adequate care of the interaction affect. Results from the formulations, simulating the three-dimensional velocity field in the main channel and in the floodplain of meandering compound channels are compared with their respective experimental channel data obtained from a series of symmetrical and unsymmetrical test channels with smooth and rough sections. The aspect ratio of the test channels varies from two to five. The equations are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data. The formulations are verified against the natural river and other meandering compound channel data. The power laws used for simulating the three-dimensional velocity structure are found to be quite adequate.