Experimental Study of Flow Resistance and Flow Characteristics over Flexible Vegetated Open Channel

개수로 내 식생구간의 흐름저항 및 흐름특성에 관한 실험적 고찰

Hydraulic engineers and scientists working on river restoration recognize the need for a deeper understanding of natural streams as a complex and dynamic system, which involves not only abiotic elements(flow, sediments) but also biotic components. From this point of view, the role played by riverine vegetation dynamics and flow conditions becomes essential. Hydro-mechanic interaction between flow and flexible plants covering a river bed is studied in this paper and some previous works are discussed. Measurements of turbulence and flow resistance in vegetated open channel were performed using rigid and flexible tube. Measuring detailed turbulent velocity profiles within and above submerged and flexible stems allowed to distinguish different turbulent regimes. Some interesting relationships were obtained between the velocity field and the deflected height of the plants, such as a reduced drag coefficient in the flexible stems. Turbulent intensities and Reynolds stresses were measured showing two different regions : above and inside the vegetation domain. In flexible vegetated open channel, the maximum values of turbulent intensities and Reynolds stresses appear above the top of canopy. Method to predict a flow resistance in flexible vegetated open channel is developed by modifying an analytical model proposed by Klopstra et al. (1997). Calculated velocity profiles and roughness values correspond well with flume experiments. These confirm the applicability of the presented model for open channel with flexible vegetation. The new method will be verified in the real vegetated conditions in the near future. After these verifications, the new method should be applied for nature rehabilitation projects such as river restorations.