MEANDERING CHANNELS RESPONSE TO A SERIES OF PERMEABLE AND IMPERMEABLE STRUCTURES UNDER DIFFERENT SINUOSITY

Abstract

 Bank erosion is a challenging issue in the management of meandering rivers. For the effective functioning of the implemented bank protection measures, it is first necessary to understand the channel response to these structures. Moreover, channel behavior is made further complex due to the varying channel geometric properties like sinuosity, deflection angle, curvature, etc. In this regard, the focus of the current study through 2D numerical simulation is to analyze the channel flow and morphological response to the permeable and impermeable bank protection structures. Higher sinuosity channel showed a better response to both types of structures in terms of the reduced scour at groynes tip, greater deflection of high-velocity currents towards the channel. Although permeable type groynes showed lesser bed evolution, it induced higher near-bank velocity increasing the risk of bank erosion. Analysis with suitable modifications to the arrangement of groynes might be needed for further understanding of the mechanism.