Modeling Bed Changes in Meandering Rivers Using Triangular Finite Elements

Abstract

A two-dimensional depth-averaged model was used for the simulation of scour and deposition in sand-bed meandering channels with fixed banks. The model employs unstructured meshes based on triangular elements and incorporates the effects of curvature-induced helical flow and transverse bed slope in the direction of bed-load sediment transport. The model was tested using experimental data from a well-known laboratory curved channel and a full scale meandering river. The numerical results agreed well with observed data, demonstrating that the model can reproduce the main features of bed profiles along meandering rivers, such as the formation of point bars and pools.