Abstract
River dynamics involve complex, incompletely understoodinteractions among flow, sediment transport and channel form.The capacity to predict these interactions is essential for avariety of river management problems, including channelmigration, width adjustment and habitat development. To addressthis need, high-resolution numerical models increasingly arebeing used by river engineers, fluvial geomorphologists andriver biologists to explore the complexity of river dynamics andto predict fluvial behavior.This paper presents numerical simulations through a naturalmeadering river using two different models: a depth-averagednumerical code with secondary flow correction and a fully 3-D,state-of-the-art, Computational-Fluid-Dynamics (CFD) code.Models predictions are compared to high-quality 3-D velocitydata collected in a highly sinuous reach of the Embarras Riverin Central Illinois, showing a successful simulation of the mainflow features. Implications for sediment transport, planformdevelopment and habitat structure throughout the reach areanalyzed, demonstrating the potential use of the models as atool for river management.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bernard, R. S.: 1993, 'STREMR: Numerical Model for Depth-averaged Incompressible Flow', Tech. Rep.} REMR-HY-11, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Miss
Bradbrook, K. F.,Biron, P.M., Lane, S. N. and Richards, K. S. and Roy, A. G.: 1998, 'Investigation of controls on secondary circulation and mixing processes in a simple confluence geometry using a three-dimensional numerical model', Hydrol. Process. 12, 1371-1396.
Bradbrook, K. F., Lane, S. N. and Richards, K. S.: 2000}, 'Numerical simulation of three-dimensional, time-averaged flow structure at river channel confluences', Water Resour. Res. 36(9), 2731-2746.
Bombardelli, F. A., Hirt, C. W. and García, M. H.: 2001, 'Discussion on 'Computations of Curve Free Surface Water Flow on Spiral Concentrators' ' by B. W. Matthews, C. A. J. Fletcher, A. C. Partridge and S. Vasquez, J. Hydr. Eng. ASCE 127(7)}, 629-6
Chow, V. T.: 1959, Open Channel Hydraulics, McGraw-Hill.
Crowder, D. W. and Diplas, P.: 2000, 'Using two-dimensional hydrodynamic models at scales of ecological importance', J. Hydrology 230, 172-191.
Dietrich, W. E.: 1987, 'Mechanics of Flow and Sediment Transport in River Bends', in Richards (ed.), River Channels: Environment and Process, Basil Blackwell Scientific Publications.
Finnie, J., Donnell, B., Letter, J. and Bernard, R.: 1993, 'Secondary flow correction for depth-averaged flow calculations', J. Eng. Mech., ASCE 125(7), 109-124.
Frothingham, K. M.: 2001, 'Geomorphological Processes in Meandering and Straight Reaches of an Agricultural Stream in East Central Illinois: Relations to Aquatic Habitat', Ph.D. Thesis, Geography Department, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Frothingham, K. M., Rhoads, B. L. and Herricks, E. E.: 2002, 'A multiscale conceptual framework for integrated ecogeomorphological research to support stream naturalization in the agricultural Midwest', Environ. Manage. 29(1), 16-33.
Frothingham, K. M., Rhoads, B. L. and Herricks, E. E.: 2001, 'Stream Geomorphology and Fish Community Structure in Channelized and Meandering Reaches of an Agricultural Stream', in J. Dorava, D. Montgomery, B. Palscak and F. Fitzpatrick (eds), Geomorphic Processes and Reverine Habitat, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC.
García, M. H., Bittner, L. and Niño, Y.: 1994, 'Mathematical Modeling Meandering Streams in Illinois: A Tool for Stream Management and Engineering', Civil Engineering Studies, Hydraulic Eng. Series No. 43, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Hirt, C. W. and Nichols, B. D.: 1981, 'Volume of Fluid (VOF) method for the dynamics of free boundaries', J. Comp. Physics 39, 201-225.
Hirt, C. W. and Sicilian, J. M.: 1985, 'A Porosity Technique for the Definition of Obstacles in Rectangular Cell Meshes', Proc. Fourth Int. Conf. Ship Hydro., National Academy of Science, Washington, DC.
Hodkinson, A. and Ferguson, R. I.: 1998, 'Numerical modeling of separated flow in river bends: Model testing and experimental investigation of geometric controls on the extent of the flow separation on the concave bank', Hydrol. Process. 12, 1323-1338.
Ikeda, S., Parker, G. and Sawai, K.: 1981, 'Bend theory of river meanders', J. Fluid Mech. 112, 363-377.
Johannesson, H. and Parker, G.: 1989, 'Linear Theory of River Meanders', in Ikeda and Parker (eds), River Meandering, Water Resources Monograph, AGU.
Lane, S., Richards, K. and Chandler, J.: 1995, 'Within-reach Spatial Patterns of Process and Channel Adjustment', in Hickin (ed.), River Geomorphology, John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Lane, S., Bradbrook, K., Richards, K., Biron, P. and Roy, A.: 1999, 'The application of computational fluid dynamics to natural river channels: Three-dimensional versus two-dimensional approaches', Geomorphology 29, 1-20.
Leschziner, M. and Rodi, W.: 1979, 'Calculation of strongly curved open channel flow', J. Hydraul. Eng. ASCE 105, 1297-1314
López, F.: 1997, 'Open-channel Flow with Roughness elements of Different Spanwise Aspect Ratios: Turbulence Structure and Numerical Modeling', Ph. D. Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Naot, D., Nezu, I. and Nakagawa, H.: 1993, 'Hydrodynamic behavior of compound rectangular open channels', J. Hydraul. Eng. ASCE 119, 390-408.
Nelson, J. and Smith, D.: 1989, 'Flow in Meandering Channels with Natural Topography', in Ikeda and Parker (eds), River Meandering, Water Resources Monograph, AGU.
Nicholas, A. P.: 2001, 'Computational fluid dynamics modeling of boundary roughness in gravel-bed rivers: An investigation of the effects of random variability in bed elevation', Earth Surf. Process. Landforms 26, 345-362.
Olsen, N. R. B. and Stokseth, S.: 1995, 'Three-dimensional numerical modelling of water flow in a river with large bed roughness', J. Hydr. Res. 33(4), 571-581.
Rhoads, B. L. and Welford, M. R.: 1991, 'Initiation of river meandering', Progr. Phys. Geogr. 15, 127-156.
Rhoads, B. L. and Sukhodolov, A.: 2001, 'Field investigation of three-dimensional flow structure at stream confluences: 1. Thermal mixing and time-averaged velocities', Water Resour. Res. 37(9), 2393-2410.
Rodi, W.: 1984, Turbulence Models and their Application in Hydraulics, IAHR Monograph, Delft.
Sukhodolov, A. and Rhoads, B. L.}: 2001, 'Field investigation of three-dimensional flow structure at stream confluences: 2. Turbulence', Water Resour. Res. 37(9), 2411-2424.
Weerakoon, S. B. and Tamai, N.: 1989, 'Three-dimensional calculation of flow in river confluences using boundary fitted coordinates', J. Hydrosci. Hydraul. Eng.7, 51-62.
Wu, W., Rodi, W. and Wenka, T.: 1997, 'Three-dimensional Calculation of River Flow', Proc. 27th IAHR Congress, San Francisco, CA.
Yen, C. and Yen, B. C.: 1971, 'Water surface configuration in channel bends', J. Hydraul. Div. ASCE 97(HY2), 303-321
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rodriguez, J.F., Bombardelli, F.A., García, M.H. et al. High-resolution Numerical Simulation of Flow Through a Highly Sinuous River Reach. Water Resources Management 18, 177–199 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:WARM.0000043137.52125.a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:WARM.0000043137.52125.a0