Numerical Simulation of 3-D Velocity Distribution in Open-Channel Flows with Vegetation

Abstract

The three-dimensional (3-D) velocity distribution and the associated secondary currents of turbulent flows in rectangular compound open channels with a vegetated domain at the channel bank and in a flood plain were computer-simulated using a 3-D algebraic stress model (ASM). This 3-D ASM was extended and derived from the non-vegetation flow model of Naot, Nezu and Nakagawa (1993, J. Hyd. Eng., ASCE) that coincided well with experimental data. The present simulation suggested a strong interaction between the main channel and flood plain.