ON THE FIELD MEASUREMENT OF PRESSURE ACTING ON BED MATERIAL IN COBBLE-BED RIVER DURING SMALL FLOOD

Abstract

 This study utilizes pressure sensors embedded in the model bed material placed in the river bed to estimate the pressure distribution around the bed material. As a proof of concept, two pressure sensors were utilized in this study. Channel experiment was conducted to understand basic characteristics of the proposed method. Field measurement in a cobble-bed river during a small flood was conducted and time-series change of pressures in the upstream and downstream side of the model cobble were analyzed to discuss turbulent fluid force acting on the bed material during the small flood when the bed cobbles were immobile but smaller fraction of bed material was partially transported.