Author(s): T. H. Yeh; F. C. Wu
Linked Author(s): Fu-Chun Wu
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: We investigate in this study the forced bedforms induced by the effect of width variations. The case of a steady configuration of bedforms developed in a channel with sinusoidally varying width is pursued theoretically and experimentally. For the former, asymptotic solutions are performed to the second order in order to describe secondary features which were previously neglected in linear solutions. Satisfactory agreement was obtained with experimental results regarding the bedforms of central and side bars observed in two independent studies, indicating that the present analytical framework is potentially applicable to the prediction of various forced bedforms. The proposed analytical approach is applied to classify the types of possible bedforms due to width variation associated with two modes of central bar formation. The analysis suggests conditions for incipient bifurcation.
Year: 2009