Abstract
A linear stability analysis of downstream-driven channel inception is performed in this study. The analysis shows that, in the case of mild slope where flow is subcritical, perturbations grow only if the wavelength is on the order of 6-100 times as large as the critical depth devided by the friction coefficient (Dc/Cf) and that the characteristic wavelength which maximizes the growth rate of perturbation scales 10 times Dc/Cf. Evaluating the friction coefficient as on the order of 0.01, an estimate of incipient channel spacing on the order of 1000 times the Froude-critical depth is obtained. It is also found that the possibility of channel inception decreases as surface slope or the critical bed shear stress relatively increases.
