Transverse transport of suspended sediment across the main channel – floodplain shear boundary
Date
2006-12
Authors
Denys, Frank
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
The floodplain of a river forms a close relationship with the stream that created it. Not only does
the river influence the characteristics of the floodplain, the floodplain can also very easily
influence its river, as is evidenced by examples such as the Huang He River in China and the
Columbia River in Canada. These two cases clearly indicate that suspended sediment has a
pronounced influence on the floodplain. This thesis investigates the processes which cause
sediment to move onto the floodplain.
As observed in many rivers worldwide suspended sediment on the floodplain has a tendency to
settle near but not directly next to the main river channel. This gap between the river channel and
the location of highest sedimentation rate stems from the fact that there is a zone of relatively
higher turbulence at the boundaries of the floodplain. Close to this zone flow on the floodplain is
increased in velocity whilst the flow velocity in the main channel is decreased as can be seen in
the figure below: ...
Description
Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
Keywords
Theses -- Civil engineering, Dissertations -- Civil engineering