| Abstract: | The depth‐integrated momentum and kinetic energy equations contain velocity correlation terms that involve products of local deviations in velocity components about depth‐averaged values. Based on velocity data obtained from North Boulder Creek, Colorado, a simple scaling analysis suggests that certain of these terms, which normally can be neglected in the case of smooth channels, can be significant parts of the momentum and energy balances in steep, rough channels owing to the occurrence of non‐logarithmic velocity profiles. A linearized version of the kinetic energy equation suggests that, for flow accelerations over small‐amplitude bed forms, the energy of the mean motion is spatially partitioned between a form involving the depth‐averaged velocity and a form involving the deviatoric part of the velocity profile; this partitioning is associated with spatial variations in the uniformity of the vertical profile of the streamwise velocity. These points are consistent with published flume measurements involving flow over sand‐roughened dunes, and with published field measurements of flow over a gravel bar. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
