Author(s): Sei-Eui Yoon; Robert Ettema; Christopher Lucie

Linked Author(s): Robert Ettema, Sei-Eui Yoon

Keywords: No Keywords

Abstract: Presented herein is a brief summary of observations from a laboratory investigation aimed at determining ice jam topography and development in a sinuous channel, and in a single-bend channel. Included in the investigation were the effects on ice jam topography of ice-fragment size and, in a precursory manner at least, of channel aspect ratio. The laboratory jams were formed in two nonrefrigerated channels with ice simulated using polyethylene/polypropylene beads and blocks. The sinuous channel comprised thirteen 90-degree bends and was of a comparatively small aspect ratio (2). The single-bend channel was a single 180-degree bend, which was an order of magnitude larger in width as well as in aspect ratio (14), than the sinuous channel. Among the main features peculiar to ice jams developed in the sinuous channel was radial variation of jam thickness. Jams were generally thicker along the inner bank, especially the lee, of bends. As a consequence of this variation in jam thickness, the line of maximum flow velocity was displaced towards the approach side of the inner bank of bends. Radial variation of jam thickness was found to be moderated by increasing size of ice fragments, and was more significant for the sinuous channel, which had a lesser aspect ratio, than for the single bend channel.

DOI:

Year: 1988