Bed topography and grain size in open channel bends

Engelund's (1974a, b) theoretical bed topography model for curved channels is modified and shown to fit natural channels when using values for the dynamic bed load friction coefficient of about 0·4–0·5. The dependence of this coefficient on grain size for flow in the lower flow regime is discussed. Using the bed topography model simultaneously, Allen's (1970a, b) theory for grain size variation over point bar profiles is shown to be broadly applicable. The interaction between sediment, flow and bed topography in bends is therefore adequately described.