Effect of Longitudinal Slope on Flow Pattern in a Doubly Meandering Compound Channel

Abstract

Natural rivers, being predominantly meandering, are usually composed of a deep main channel and adjacent shallow floodplains. This results in a meandering compound channel. When the main meander channel is flanked by floodplains with meandering levee, it results in a doubly meandering compound channel. This paper explores the effect of bed slope on flow pattern in a doubly meandering compound channel. The effect of slope on the exchange of momentum between main channel and floodplain, flow patterns in the transverse and longitudinal direction, difference in magnitude between maximum and minimum velocities, retardation and deviation of flow fields, the position and strength of eddies and augmentation and reduction of the main channel discharge has been discussed.