Analysis of flow along the meander path of a highly sinuous rigid channel

Abstract

Despite substantial research on various aspects of velocity distribution in curved meander rivers, no systematic effort has been made to analyse the variation of velocity profile along a meander path. In this research work, variation of velocity profile along the width and depth of the channel has been methodically analysed at different cross-sections (13 sections) along a meander path of a sinuous channel of 120° cross-over angle. The meander path considered is from one bend apex to the next bend apex which changes its course at the cross-over. Bend apex is the position of maximum curvature and cross-over represents the section at which the sinuous channel changes its sign. The study is thoroughly done to find the changes in the water surface profile throughout the meander path, where the height of water always remaining higher towards the outer wall of the curved channel. Longitudinal velocity distributions along the width and depth of the channel, i.e., the horizontal and vertical velocity profiles are investigated with the higher velocity remaining towards the inner wall of the channel unlike straight channels. As the channel changes its curvature, so does the movement of higher velocity which moves from one bank towards the other. Boundary shear stress distribution along different points of the wetted perimeter on the channel bed is also obtained at all the above sections to investigate its deviation along the meander path. This helped to compute the total shear force at each of these sections. Hence these features can be considered by engineers and researchers in the field of sediment erosion, deposition, etc.