Relationship between energy dissipation rate and channel morphology in the development of the model braided channel

1 IntroductionA certain pattern of channel is the product of its self-adjustment under given boundary, discharge and sediment conditions[1]. A lot of experiments have been performed in flumes, usually with an initially-regulated straight channel being constructed in the flume, to determine the impact of these conditions on channel morphologies and patterns[2-6]. Schumm's experiments[3] demonstrated that when the bed-load channels transport only sand at constant discharge, channels develop from…     

基于对Leopold-Wolman关系修正的河床河型判别

在广泛收集中国和世界上冲积河流资料的基础上,以近200条河流的大样本对著名的、国际上沿用40余年的 Leopold-Wolman关系,即用于河型判别的比降-流量关系进行了检验。结果发现,该关系不能用于包括砾石与砂质河床在内的河型判别。这是由于比降-流量关系主要反映砾石河床与砂质河床之间差异,其次才反映分汊与弯曲河型之间的差异。为此,对于Leopold-Wolman关系进行了改进,提出了以比降和河宽来判别河型的新关系。这一关系综合反映了河流在纵向上的能耗、阻力与输沙特性与在横向上的流场与环流分布特性的组合关系,因而具有更好的河型判别效果,可以用于包括砾石与砂质河床在内的河型判别。     

游荡性河流演变规律研究进展及其河型归属探讨

游荡性河道在中国广泛分布,其中以黄河下游上段最为典型,但关于游荡性河型的归属问题尚存在很大争议,国际上多将游荡性河流归属为辫状河型。本文以黄河下游游荡性河道为典型案例,系统总结了游荡性河流的演变特征、主要影响因素和形成机理,并从定义、成因、特征及河道形成过程方面,将游荡与辫状河型的异同点进行对比分析。得到以下启示：游荡性河型是一种重要的河道型态,与辫状河型在许多方面存在较明显差异。特别是游荡河型主要发育于能量小于输沙需求的环境,因而形态呈现不稳定特性,但辫状河型不仅出现在能量较多的环境,而且也常在能量较小的环境中出现,因而一部分具有稳定形态,另一部分则表现出不稳定的特性,因此,有必要对游荡性河道和辫状河道给予区分。最后对未来研究进行了展望,提出应重视河型形成的内在机理,对能量理论进行发展及深化,进一步系统性评价游荡性河道与辫状河道的异同性,以解决游荡性河道的河型归属问题。     

黄河下游游荡段排沙比对水沙条件与断面形态的响应

提高黄河下游游荡段的输沙能力是河道治理的主要任务,而河道输沙效率（排沙比）受到来水来沙条件和河床边界条件的共同影响。本文基于1971—2016年花园口—高村河段（简称花高段）的实测水沙及地形资料,计算了花高段的平均河相系数及水沙条件（来沙系数和水流冲刷强度）,从汛期和场次洪水2个时间尺度,定量分析了排沙比与水沙条件及前一年汛后主槽形态之间的响应关系。分析结果表明：① 汛期和场次洪水排沙比与来沙系数呈负相关,与水流冲刷强度呈正相关,临界的汛期不淤来沙系数为0.012 kg?s/m ⁶,场次洪水排沙比与来沙系数及水量比的决定系数为0.76;② 游荡段排沙比与河相系数呈负相关,当河相系数大于15 /m ^0.5时,河段排沙比基本小于1;③ 以来沙系数与河相系数为自变量的汛期排沙比计算式的决定系数为0.82,计算精度较高,对于场次洪水排沙比而言,断面形态的影响权重大于来沙系数。这些排沙比计算公式能够反映游荡段的输沙特点,有助于定量掌握断面形态及水沙条件对河道输沙能力的影响。     

Energy dissipation caused by boundary resistance in a typical reach of the lower Yellow River and the implications for riverbed stability

The energy dissipation of boundary resistance is presented in this paper based on the flow resistance. Additionally, the river morphology responses to the resistance energy dissipation are explored using the Gaocun-Taochengpu reach in the lower Yellow River as a prototype. Theoretical analysis, measured data analysis and a one-dimensional hydrodynamic model are synthetically used to calculate the energy dissipation rate and riverbed morphological change. The results show that the energy dissipation rate along the channel will increase in both the mean value and the fluctuation intensity with increasing discharge. However, the energy dissipation rate will first decrease and then increase as the flow section or width-depth ratio increases. In addition, the energy dissipation rate has a significant positive correlation with the riverbed stability index. The results imply that the water and sediment transport efficiency of the river channel can be improved by optimizing the cross-sectional configuration to fulfil the minimum energy dissipation rate of the boundary resistance under stable riverbed conditions.     

Multiple thread flow and channel bifurcation in a braided river: Brahmaputra–Jamuna River, Bangladesh

Considerable progress has been made recently in characterising the patterns displayed by the anabranches of braided rivers. However, the physical processes of sediment scour, transfer and deposition that govern the generation and evolution of anabranch channels remain largely unexplained. Direct measurement of three-dimensional flow fields and morphological evolution of the anabranches in the braided Brahmaputra–Jamuna River, Bangladesh, were undertaken to investigate the interactions between fluvial processes and anabranch morphology. These data were used to elucidate the circumstances leading to the bifurcation of a single channel, which is a topic of fundamental importance to understanding the physical processes responsible for braiding. Results indicate that division of the velocity field into multiple threads within a single channel precedes a division in the cross-sectional morphology of the channel and appears to be a necessary prerequisite for development of a bifurcation. An empirical relationship was established to discriminate between channels with single and multi-thread velocity fields, based on the depth-to-width ratio and specific energy of the flow at a representative channel cross-section. This function requires further validation, but could be used to predict the conditions under which a single channel is likely to bifurcate to produce two anabranches.     

Prediction of alluvial channel pattern of perennial rivers

Purely braided, meandering and straight channels can be considered as end-members of a continuum of alluvial channel patterns. Several researchers have succeeded in separating channel patterns in fields defined by flow related parameters. However, the discriminators of the principal channel patterns derived from these diagrams all require some a priori knowledge of the channel geometry. In this paper a method is presented which enables prediction of the equilibrium conditions for the occurrence of braided and high sinuosity meandering rivers in unconfined alluvial floodplains. The method is based on two, almost channel pattern independent, boundary conditions: median grain size of the river bed material, and a potential specific stream power parameter related to bankfull discharge or mean annual flood and valley gradient. This can be regarded as a potential maximum of the available flow energy corresponding to the minimum sinuosity condition, P = 1. Based on an analysis of 228 datasets of measurement sites along rivers from many parts of the world an independent discriminating function was found that separates the occurrence of braided rivers and meandering rivers with P > 1.5. The function applies to equilibrium conditions of rivers that neither incise nor show rapid aggradation, with a bankfull or mean annual flood discharge above 10 m³/s and a median bed material grain size between 0.1 and 100 mm.     

黄河下游河道断面形态参数变化及其水沙过程响应

基于1965—2015年黄河下游花园口、高村、泺口站的逐年水文和汛前河道断面的实测资料，分析了河道断面形态参数（河道断面面积，河道宽深比等）的变化，以及对河道断面形态与来水来沙间的关系做出定量化分析。结果表明：主槽断面形态参数与水沙搭配以及前期断面形态密切相关，沿程3个断面形态参数调整方式存在显著差异。河宽调整幅度沿程减小，辫状河段变幅最大，尤其在1986—1999年，辫状河段萎缩程度最为严重，其次为弯曲河段，顺直河段横向调整幅度最小。受到前期断面形态的影响，辫状河段河道断面调整方式既有横向展宽（萎缩）又有垂直加深（淤积）；弯曲河段河道宽深比与流量呈较弱的正相关关系，具有横向和垂向的调整方式；而顺直河段的宽深比与流量呈负相关关系，与来沙系数呈正相关关系，河道以垂直加深（淤积）为主。     

分汊型河床的形成与演变——以长江中下游为例

本文根据多年的地质、地貌,来水来沙等考察资料,河道变迁的历史记载以及实验研究成果,分析了分汊型河床的两个必要条件及三方面的演变特征,最后用河流力图使自己的能量损耗率达于最小的假说对汊河的形成和演变作了解释。     

“东川型”排导槽结构对泥石流流速影响的实验研究

消能肋槛和排导槽纵比降是控制"东川型"泥石流排导槽内流体运动的两个关键因素.泥石流流速是反映排导槽工程输移力及对排导槽的冲刷淤积破坏的重要参数之一.通过实验,对固定配比的泥石流流体在不同的肋槛组合下的排导槽中的流速进行了研究,结果表明:(1)肋槛间距从40 cm增加至60 cm时,泥石流流速先增加后减少,在间距50 cm时达到最大值;(2)肋槛高度对泥石流流速的影响非常复杂,在不同的肋槛间距和纵比降下表现不同的相关关系;(3)纵比降对排导槽内的泥石流流体基本呈正相关;(4)得到了肋槛间距与肋槛高度之比值N与泥石流流速V之间关系的数学表达式:V=0.0341N+C,其中C为常量.     

Lateral erosion/accretion area and shrinkage rate of the Linhe reach braided channel of the Yellow River between 1977 and 2014

Quantitative studies on river channel lateral erosion/accretion area changes over time can reveal the characteristics of channel evolution. Taking the 213-km-long Linhe reach braided channel of the Yellow River as an example, area changes in channel bank erosion/accretion in four sub-reaches (S1, S2, S3 and S4) over 19 different periods were evaluated on the basis of remote sensing images captured since 1977. Mean channel shrinkage rate for the whole river reach was also obtained. Results show that the left and right banks of the Linhe reach were dominated by lateral net accretion between 1977 and 2014. The channel area of this section of the Yellow River was characterized by reduction between 1977 and 2001, while periods of alternate erosion and accretion occurred subsequent to 2001. Mean channel shrinkage rate in the Linhe reach braided channel was 6.15 km²/yr between 1977 and 2014, while the most remarkable changes in channel planform occurred in the 1990s. Compared to 1995, channel length and sinuosity increased by 5.8% and 6.6% by 2000, while channel area and mean width decreased by 39.4% and 42.8%, respectively. Significant changes in channel planform and shrinkage of the Linhe reach occurred in the 1990s, mainly as a result of the joint-operation of the Longyangxia and Liujiaxia reservoirs since 1986, which caused substantial reductions in runoff and sediment flux during the annual flooding season. In addition, bank erosion/accretion in the four sub-reaches was affected by the physical properties of local banks, engineering emplaced to protect channel banks, and hydrodynamic differences. However, since the implementation of integrated river management measures from 2000 onwards, these changes have been significantly mitigated and the health of the Linhe reach braided channel of the Yellow River has been restored.     

Differential recovery from the effects of a 100-year storm: Significance of long-term hillslope–channel coupling; Howgill Fells, northwest England

A 100-year storm that occurred in 1982 caused major geomorphic changes in the main valleys of the northern Howgill Fells, northwest England. Those changes, which were documented at that time, involved extensive hillslope gully erosion, alluvial fan sedimentation, and substantial sediment input to the stream systems. The streams channels, which had hitherto been dominantly single-thread, relatively stable channels, responded in many reaches by switching to wide shallow unstable locally braided channels. Over the 20 years since the event there has been a partial recovery to channel geometries similar to the pre-flood conditions, however the degree of recovery contrasts between two neighbouring valleys, Bowderdale and Langdale. The channel of Bowderdale Beck has largely recovered. Flood sedimentation zones have largely stabilised and new single-thread channels have cut through most of the former braided reaches. In some places channel widths remain higher than the pre-flood values, and locally recovery has been modified by a lagged complex response. In Langdale, recovery is only partial with many reaches demonstrating sustained instability over the 20-year post-flood period. Furthermore, the overall spatial patterns suggest some reach-to-reach transfer of coarse sediment, shifting zones of instability downstream. The contrasts between the two valleys appear to relate to different hillslope-to-channel coupling characteristics, themselves inherited from late Pleistocene conditions. These contrasts are also evident in the longer-term (post-1949) history of channel change and stability in these two streams, indicative of the higher intrinsic instability of the Langdale system.     

1977年以来黄河临河段河岸冲淤变化及河道萎缩速率

不同时段河道的侧向侵蚀/加积面积变化的定量研究可以揭示河道的变化特征。以黄河临河段213 km长的河段为研究对象,利用1977年以来19个时段基于遥感影像绘制的河道平面形态图的面积变化来估算其4个亚河段（S1、S2、S3和S4）在不同时段的河岸侧向侵蚀/加积面积以及全河段的河道平均萎缩速率。研究结果表明,黄河临河段左右河岸在37年间都表现为侧向净加积,其4个亚河段左岸的侧向累计加积面积分别为33.16 km²、49.59 km²、29.52 km²和30.85 km²,其中1995-2000年的加积面积分别占到其总加积面积的85.5%、51.2%、47.2%和104.6%;右岸的侧向累计加积面积分别为30.83 km²、8.74 km²、26.44 km²和18.76 km²,而1995-2000年的加积面积分别占到其总加积面积的57.2%、111.9%、65.7%和61.6%。该河段河道面积1977-2001年具有减小趋势,2001年之后河道表现为侧向侵蚀、加积的交替变化,1977-2014年间河道平均萎缩速率为6.16 km²/yr。该河段河道平面形态值最明显的变化也发生在1990s,与1995年相比,2000年的河道长度增加了5.8%,河道面积减少了39.4%,河道平均宽度减小了42.8%,弯曲系数增加了6.6%。黄河临河段河道形态剧烈变化及河道严重萎缩都发生在1990s,这主要是黄河上游刘家峡和龙羊峡水库联合运行导致汛期水沙量大量减小所致,4个亚河段的河岸冲淤变化还受到局部河岸物质结构、护岸工程及水动力差异的影响。随着2000年后河流综合管理措施的调整,黄河临河段河道的上述变化趋势明显弱化,河流健康程度有所好转。     

Predicting channel patterns

The proposed distinction between meandering and braided river channel patterns, on the basis of bankfull specific stream power and bed material size, is analysed and rejected. Only by using regime-based estimates of channel widths (rather than actual widths) has discrimination been achieved, and it is argued that this procedure is unacceptable.An alternative is to explore the patterning processes underlying the marked pattern scatter on bankfull stream power/bed material size plots. Of the five sets of patterning processes, large-scale bedform development and stability is seen as especially important for meandering and braiding. For gravel-bed rivers, bedforms developed at around or above bankfull stage appear important for pattern generation, with braiding relating to higher excess shear stress and Froude number. There seems to be an upper threshold to both meandering and braiding which is achieved at extreme discharges and steep gradients, as on steep alluvial fans, rather than for the rivers with available flow data here considered. For sand-bed rivers with greater excess shear stress, the equivalent upper plane bed threshold may occur below bankfull, with bed material mobility and bedform modification occurring over a wider range of sub-bankfull discharges. Sand-bed channel margin outlines appear to be less perturbed by bedform effects than gravel bed planforms, and they may have naturally straight or sinuous planforms. Bedform relief may nevertheless lead to some being designated as braided when viewed at low flows.It is concluded that the use of a single-stage stream power measure and bed material size alone is unlikely to achieve meandering/braiding discrimination.     

近50年黄河乌兰布和沙漠段辫状河道演变

依据水沙资料和断面资料,对黄河乌兰布和沙漠段辫状河道形态近50年演变特征及趋势进行探讨分析。结果表明：在大流量条件下（1966-1993年）,河流横向侵蚀、搬运堆积过程强烈,风沙入黄（河）量大,河道横向摆动频繁,辫状河道发育强烈。当黄河流量减小时（1993-2013年）,河流横向摆动能力减弱,黄河主河槽远离左岸乌兰布和沙漠沙丘,河流输沙能力减弱,汊道泥沙淤积导致心滩边滩相连,河流分汊数量明显减少,辫状河道萎缩,黄河乌兰布和沙漠段辫状河型有向弯曲型河道转变的趋势。     

Disturbance, stream incision, and channel evolution: The roles of excess transport capacity and boundary materials in controlling channel response

Channel incision is part of denudation, drainage-network development, and landscape evolution. Rejuvenation of fluvial networks by channel incision often leads to further network development and an increase in drainage density as gullies migrate into previously non-incised surfaces. Large, anthropogenic disturbances, similar to large or catastrophic “natural” events, greatly compress time scales for incision and related processes by creating enormous imbalances between upstream sediment delivery and available transporting power. Field examples of channel responses to antrhopogenic and “natural” disturbances are presented for fluvial systems in the mid continent and Pacific Northwest, USA, and central Italy. Responses to different types of disturbances are shown to result in similar spatial and temporal trends of incision for vastly different fluvial systems. Similar disturbances are shown to result in varying relative magnitudes of vertical and lateral (widening) processes, and different channel morphologies as a function of the type of boundary sediments comprising the bed and banks. This apparent contradiction is explained through an analysis of temporal adjustments to flow energy, shear stress, and stream power with time. Numerical simulations of sand-bed channels of varying bank resistance and disturbed by reducing the upstream sediment supply by half, show identical adjustments in flow energy and the rate of energy dissipation. The processes that dominate adjustment and the ultimate stable geometries, however, are vastly different, depending on the cohesion of the channel banks and the supply of hydraulically-controlled sediment (sand) provided by bank erosion.The non-linear asymptotic nature of fluvial adjustment to incision caused by channelization or other causes is borne out in similar temporal trends of sediment loads from disturbed systems. The sediments emanating from incised channels can represent a large proportion of the total sediment yield from a landscape, with erosion from the channel banks generally the dominant source. Disturbances that effect available force, stream power or flow energy, or change erosional resistance such that an excess of flow energy occurs can result in incision. Channel incision, therefore, can be considered a quintessential feature of dis-equilibrated fluvial systems.     

Analysis of controls upon channel planform at the First Great Bend of the Upper Yellow River, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The 270 km long section of the Upper Yellow River at the First Great Bend is comprised of single channel and multiple channel systems that alternate among anastomosing, anabranching, meandering and braided reaches. The sequence of downstream pattern changes is characterized as： anastomosing-anabranching, anabranching-meandering, meandering-braided and braided-meandering. Remote sensing images, DEM data and field investigations are used to assess ahd interpret controls on these reach transitions. Channel slope and bed sediment size are key determinants of transitions in channel planform. Anas- tomosing reaches have a relatively high bed slope （0.86‰） and coarser sediment bed material （d50 = 3.5 mm）. In contrast, meandering reaches have a low slope （0.30‰） and fine sediment bed material （d50 = 0.036 mm）. The transition from a meandering to braided pattern is characterized by an increase in channel width-depth ratio, indicating the important role of bank strength （i.e. cohesive versus non-cohesive versus channel boundaries）. Interestingly, the braided-meandering and meandering-braided transitions are coincident with variable flow inputs from tributary rivers （Baihe and Heihe rivers respectively）. Theoretical analysis of the meandering-braided transition highlights the key control of channel width-depth ratio as a determinant of channel planform.     

Some thermodynamic criteria for river channel changes

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Urban stream channel hazards

In managing urban stream channels there are pressures to use soft engineering techniques to restore channels wherever possible, to undertake management within a drainage basin context, to produce sustainable solutions and to consider community views. However, specific methods for characterizing the channel network in terms of possible management options have not been developed explicitly for urban areas. A method of characterizing the entire drainage network of urban areas, based upon segmentation of the stream channel network according to the incidence of road crossings and stormwater outfalls, is proposed together with consideration of ways in which the segments can be characterized, including stream channel hazards as a means of providing one basis for urban channel management.     

Valley confinement as a factor of braided river pattern for the Platte River

The Platte River in Nebraska has evolved in the twentieth century from a predominantly braided river pattern to a mélange of meandering, wandering, anastomosed, island braided, and fully braided reaches. Identifying the factors that determine the occurrence of a fully braided main channel was the objective of this study. Aerial photography, gage flow data, ground-surveyed cross sections, bed material samples, and the results of sediment transport modeling were used to examine factors that control spatial change in main river pattern of the central Platte River. Valley confinement is identified as the determining factor of braided river in nine of eleven divisions of the central Platte River. Flow reduction and the interruption of sediment supply are identified as determining factors preventing fully braided river in the remaining two of eleven reaches.Valley confinement, the topography which limits the width of the floodplain, was initially measured as width between historical banks (predevelopment river banks). This metric was later refined to width between confining features (historical banks, remnant bars, bridge abutments, protected banks and levees). Under existing conditions, the main channel of the central Platte River is fully braided when valley confinement (width between confining features) is 600 m or less and begins to divide into the multiple channels of an anastomosed pattern when valley confinement (width between confining features) exceeds 600 m When Platte River flow is divided between two to four major anabranches, a fully braided pattern in the main channel of the main anabranch requires a more confined valley of 400 m or less.Valley confinement is demonstrated to be the dominant factor in determining river pattern in the central Platte River, although this factor is not normally considered in the continuum of channel pattern model. Conclusions from this study can be used to increase the occurrence of fully braided main channel in the central Platte River, to aid habitat recovery for endangered or threatened bird species that favor this river pattern. Consideration of valley confinement with river continuum factors can aid river managers by improving predictions of river pattern in response to management actions.