Abstract
Vegetation in a curved river is considered to influence the local flow structures and bed configuration by changing a pressure gradient and a momentum transport. In this study, three-dimensional mean flow structures were measured in curved open channels with various vegetation arrangements. Secondary flows are generated only in the region outside the vegetation zones and their strength indicates similar developing/decaying process. In order to investigate the effects of vegetation on momentum transport, two-dimensional depth-averaged momentum equations are used in an orthogonal, curvilinear coordinate system. The lateral momentum transport due to the secondary flow is modeled from an examination of the previous experimental data. The mean flow distributions and water surface profiles in curved channels with vegetation are well predicted by using this model.
