Hydraulic Evaluation of W-Weir for River Restoration

Abstract

Various structural measures have been advocated for river restoration and habitat improvement schemes. The W-weir is one such structure that can be used in mobile bed alluvial rivers to diversify habitat and provide grade control. Laboratory studies have been carried out in a large-scale meandering channel with a mobile bed to investigate their effects on flow and sediment transport processes. A W-weir placed immediately downstream of a riffle section created a strongly three-dimensional flow pattern and high-turbulence zones. Two adjacent scour holes of different depths and substrate are formed under clearwater and live bed conditions. The continuity of sediment transport along the channel was not interrupted by the structure and the upstream afflux is minimal. Overbank flow significantly influenced the action of the weir and the scour hole was shifted closer to the structure. In a relatively tight bend followed by a short crossover reach, the weir may affect bed load transport pathways in the downstream bend. Finally, the study provides insights to guide their design for restoration projects.