Fluvial Processes

“the great sculptor of the landscape”

I. The River Channel
A. Basic Mechanics
1. Laminar Flow
2. Turbulent Flow
I. The River Channel
A. Basic Mechanics
1. Laminar Flow
2. Turbulent Flow
3. Reynolds Number

Re = driving forces = V D p = (velocity * depth * fluid density)

resisting forces u (fluid viscosity)

laminar < 500 700 < turbulent

 
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I. The River Channel
B. Flow Equations and Resisting Forces

Discharge = velocity * depth * width

Q = V*A

1. Manning Equation
 1.Manning Equation
v = R 2/3 S ½
n
Where
v = average flow velocity
r = hydraulic radius
s = channel slope (unitless)
n = Manning roughness coefficient

R = A/P
A = Area
P = Wetted Perimeter
 Q = A R 2/3 S ½
N

Where
Q = average flow discharge
A = area of channel
R = hydraulic radius
S = channel slope (unitless)
n = Manning roughness coefficient

R = A/P
A = Area
P = Wetted Perimeter
I. The River Channel
B. Flow Equations and Resisting Forces
1. Manning Equation
2. Chezy Equation

V = C *(RS)1/2
II. Sediment in Channels
A. Transportation
1. Suspended load
2. Bedload

B. Entrainment and Erosion

II. Sediment in Channels
A. Transportation
1. Suspended load
2. Bedload
3. Washload

B. Entrainment and Erosion

C. Deposition
II. Sediment in Channels
A. Transportation
1. Suspended load
2. Bedload
3. Washload

B. Entrainment and Erosion

C. Deposition

“ a battle between velocity and gravity”

III. The Quasi-Equilibrium Condition
 
III. The Quasi-Equilibrium Condition
 
A. Hydraulic Geometry
III. The Quasi-Equilibrium Condition
 
A. Hydraulic Geometry

Q = V*A
III. The Quasi-Equilibrium Condition
 
A. Hydraulic Geometry

Q = V*A
Q=V*w*d
III. The Quasi-Equilibrium Condition
 
A. Hydraulic Geometry

Q = V*A
Q=V*w*d

w = aQb
d = cQ f
v = kQ m
 M = 0.26
A. Hydraulic Geometry

“at a station trends” M = 0.4

M = 0.34
 M = 0.5
A. Hydraulic Geometry

M = 0.4
“distance downstream trends”

M = 0.1
Distance Downstream
Q W d V
10.1 33.3 0.71 0.43
11.3 31.5 0.67 0.54
15 38 0.79 0.5
28.9 38 0.94 0.81
56.8 40.7 1.1 1.27
106 29.1 2.14 1.7
119 44.5 1.95 1.37
125 42.5 1.58 1.86
132 42 1.9 1.66
133 30 2.08 2.13
181 43 1.9 2.22
201 43 2.04 2.29
312 55 2.24 2.54
494 70 6.04 1.17
503 66 3.47 2.2
629 73 3.7 2.33
674 71 4.55 2.09
1100 72.5 4.97 3.06
1740 75 5.56 4.17
2930 215 3.38 4.04
 250

200
width, depth and velocities

150

y = 14.904x0.2375
100

50

y = 0.2754x0.395

y = 0.2448x0.3669
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500
Q - Discharge
 1000

100
0.2375
y = 14.904x
width, depth and velocity (ft,s)

W
10
0.395
y = 0.2754x

y = 0.2448x0.3669

1 D
V

0.1
1 10 100 1000 10000
Discharge (cfs)
 B. The Influence of Slope

Slope
(ft/mi)
B. The Influence of Slope
III. The Quasi-Equilibrium Condition
C. Channel Shape ….in cross section:

F = 255M-1.08

Where F = width to depth ratio (W/D)

M = % silt and clay in channel
IV. Channel Patterns

….in plan view (bird’s eye)

Straight
Meandering
Braided

Transition between Straight

And Meandering is when
Sinuosity is 1.5
IV. Channel Patterns

From: Montgomery and

Buffington, 1997
(pools and riffles)
(pools and riffles)
Riffles are spaced ~ 5-7 times
the channel width
(pools and riffles)
(pools and riffles)

`
IV. Channel Patterns
Meanders…….
IV. Channel Patterns
Meanders…….
IV. Channel Patterns
Meanders…….
IV. Channel Patterns
Meanders…….
Meanders…….
A few final words on stream form….

braided
A few final words on stream form….

Anastomosing channels

braided
A few final words on stream form….
A few final words on stream form….
The factors responsible are……
A few final words on stream form….

Why do channels take on a certain pattern?????

A few final words on stream form….
A few final words on stream form….

Why do channels take on a certain pattern?????

It’s primarily due to the relationship between slope and discharge

(or velocity)
A few final words on stream form….

Why do channels take on a certain pattern?????

It’s primarily due to the relationship between slope and discharge

(or velocity)
V = C *(RS)1/2
The ole’ Chezy Equ:
or
V = C *(DS)1/2
A few final words on stream form….

It’s primarily due to the relationship between slope and

discharge (or velocity)

The ole Chezy Equ:

V = C *(DS)1/2
V = velocity
C = roughness
D = depth of flow
S = slope of channel
 V = C *(DS)1/2
V = velocity
C = roughness
D = depth of flow
S = slope of channel
The change in slope is a RESPONSE to changes in channel shape,
NOT a cause of braiding
Increasing the slope of a stream DOES NOT cause it to braid.
 V. Rivers, Equilibrium, and Time
“the profile of streams”
knickpoints
 V. Rivers, Equilibrium, and Time
the graded river: (page 227)
 V. Rivers, Equilibrium, and Time

the graded river: (page 227)

“one in which, over a period of years, slope is delicately
adjusted to provide, with available discharge and with prevailing
channel characteristics, just the velocity required for the transportation
of the load supplied from the drainage basin. The graded stream is a
system in equilibrium; its diagnostic characteristic is that any change
in any of the controlling factors will cause a displacement of the
equilibrium in a direction that will tend to absorb the effect of the
change.” Mackin, 1948
 the graded river: Lane Diagram

Factors affecting
stream morphology
• Width
• Depth
• Slope
• Velocity
• Discharge
• Flow resistance
• Sediment size
• Sediment load
Leopold et al (1964)
 V. Rivers, Equilibrium, and Time

Responses from adjusting load and discharge…

 V. Rivers, Equilibrium, and Time

Responses from adjusting load and discharge…

ACTIVITY RESPONSE SLOPE

 V. Rivers, Equilibrium, and Time

Responses from adjusting load and discharge…

ACTIVITY RESPONSE SLOPE

Increase in load ??? ???

Decrease in load ??? ???
Increase in discharge ??? ???
Decrease in discharge ??? ???
 V. Rivers, Equilibrium, and Time

Responses from adjusting load and discharge…

ACTIVITY RESPONSE SLOPE

Increase in load Aggradation increase

Decrease in load
Increase in discharge
Decrease in discharge
 V. Rivers, Equilibrium, and Time

Responses from adjusting load and discharge…

ACTIVITY RESPONSE SLOPE

Increase in load Aggradation increase

Decrease in load Degradation decrease
Increase in discharge
Decrease in discharge
 V. Rivers, Equilibrium, and Time

Responses from adjusting load and discharge…

ACTIVITY RESPONSE SLOPE

Increase in load Aggradation increase

Decrease in load Degradation decrease
Increase in discharge Degradation decrease
Decrease in discharge
 V. Rivers, Equilibrium, and Time

Responses from adjusting load and discharge…

ACTIVITY RESPONSE SLOPE

Increase in load Aggradation increase

Decrease in load Degradation decrease
Increase in discharge Degradation decrease
Decrease in discharge Aggradation increase
 V. Rivers, Equilibrium, and Time

The reservoir problem…..

V. Rivers, Equilibrium, and Time

The reservoir problem…..

Chris Greene Lake

Charlottesville
V. Rivers, Equilibrium, and Time

The reservoir problem…..