Abstract
The main objective of this study is to investigate the morphological response and variability in the wavelength, height, steepness of bed forms developed over a quasi-uniform, coarse-sand bed under unsteady flows, with zero sediment feed condition specified at the upstream boundary. A series of smooth, bell-shaped hydrographs are generated within a titling flume, each defined parametrically by their shape (η), unsteadiness (ΓHG) and total water work (Wk). By contrast, the bed forms generated in the sediment bed are quantified through their wavelength (λ), height (D) and steepness (ψ). Experimental results indicate that different categories of bed forms, such as dunes, alternate bars, or transitional structures, developed on the bed surface over the hydrograph duration. A close examination of relative importance of three hydrograph's parameters (i.e. η, ΓHG and Wk) on bed-form dimensional descriptors (i.e. λ, D, ψ) reveals that the flow unsteadiness and total water work appear to be the primary and second-order control on bed-form category developed and their overall magnitude, whereas the hydrograph shape (η) appears to have a minimal impact. Based on this knowledge, a constitutive model to describe the effect of unsteady flow hydrographs on the bed-form categories and magnitude is developed from the results in the present study.
Translated title of the contribution | Study on the characteristics of bed forms developed under unsteady flows |
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Original language | Chinese (Traditional) |
Pages (from-to) | 751-758 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Shuikexue Jinzhan/Advances in Water Science |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 30 Sept 2021 |
Keywords
- Bed forms
- Flood
- Unsteady flow
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Earth and Planetary Sciences