Author(s): Seonmin Lee, Sung-Uk Choi
Linked Author(s): Sung-Uk Choi
Keywords: Vegetation, channel bend, mean flow, turbulence statistics, k-? SST Model
Abstract: Flows in a curved-channel are highly complicated. In general, due to the centrifugal force, a converging flow occurs along the outer part of the bend with strengthened secondary flows. On the other hand, sediment deposition takes place on the inner part of the bend. This provides a higher chance of presence of vegetation in the inner part of the channel bend. This study investigates numerically the impact of inner-bank vegetation on the mean flow and turbulence statistics in a curved channel. For this purpose, the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations are solved with the k-? SST model. The proposed model is applied to a flat-bed laboratory experiment with a 60' curved channel by Tominaga et al. (1998). Simulation results reveal that the inner bank vegetation changes the mean flow significantly. That is, it is found that the inner bank vegetation in a curved channel moves the maximum velocity towards the outer bank and restricts the region of secondary flows. Turbulence statistics are also found to be affected by the presence of the inner-bank vegetation
Year: 2017