Ensuring Similitude of Relative Depth in Bed Formation Processes Simulation

Abstract

Ensuring both qualitative and quantitative similitude in alluvial bed formation processes simulation has always been a rather difficult task Partial similitude is usually achieved after many simplifications of the equations describing the process and even so, the results have been applicable to the local conditions.

An important factor in alluvial bed formation processes simulation is the depth-width ratio of the model and the prototype. A study of the depth-width relationship of natural rivers has shown that there is a general law governing the depth-width ratio as the discharge increases. Laboratory investigations [4, 10, 14] have shown that this law could be ex-tended to our laboratory streams and could be a very useful tool in model calculation.