Author(s): Jian Sun; Binliang Lin

Linked Author(s): Binliang Lin

Keywords: Morphodynamic process; Braided river; Numerical modelling; Disturbance; Sediment transport

Abstract: The braided river is a river pattern with complex planform appearances and dynamic evolution properties, which contains a network of multi-thread streams that split off and re-join each other. Both the cellular models with reduced-complexity method and physical-based models have been attempted to simulate the dynamic processes of braided channel patterns. In these models, perturbations were widely introduced into the initial or boundary conditions. The effect of disturbance in the development of braided pattern has not been clear so far, although there are disturbances existing in real world, such as uneven sandy bed and the uncertain arrangement of sands. In this study, a physical-based model is set up and applied to simulate the braided channels. It is found that the artificial disturbance is not a necessary prerequisite in the generation of braiding pattern but it changes the channel evolution processes. The impacts of the disturbance on the channel development are further investigated.

DOI:

Year: 2015