The stage-discharge, sediment transport, bedforms and drag force influenced by floodplain roughness

Abstract

Laboratory experiments concerning stage-discharge, sediment transport, bedforms and sediment transport have been conducted in a meandering channel with simulated non-vegetated and vegetated floodplains for overbank flow. The effect of placing solid blocks, as a model of rigid emergent vegetation, on a floodplain adjacent to a meandering channel is considered. Stage-discharge curves, sediment transport, bedforms and drag force FD are determined in different arrangements of blocks. The results from the laboratory model tests show that placing solid blocks along some part of the bend section give a significant effect on stage-discharge curves and sediment transport rates. The change in stage for block cases compared with no block case shows a significant increase in stage. The sediment transport rate shows that the main channel flow increases or decreases dependent on the block arrangement on the floodplains.