Hydraulic Radius for Evaluating Resistance Induced by Simulated Emergent Vegetation in Open-Channel Flows

Abstract

The resistance induced by simulated emergent vegetation in open-channel flows has been interpreted differently in the literature, largely attributable to inconsistent uses of velocity and length scales in the definition of friction factor or drag coefficient and Reynolds number. By drawing analogies between pipe flows and vegetated channel flows, this study proposes a new friction function with the Reynolds number that is redefined by using a vegetation-related hydraulic radius. The new relationship is useful for consolidating various experimental data across a wide range of vegetation density. The results clearly show a monotonic decrease of the drag coefficient with the new Reynolds number, which is qualitatively comparable to other drag coefficient relationships for nonvegetated flows. This study also proposes a procedure for correcting sidewall and bed effects in the evaluation of vegetation drag.