Abstract
Based on data from more than 100 alluvial rivers, a systematic comparison of flow shear stress and energy expenditure has been made between sand- and gravel-bed rivers, by plotting the relationships between channel shape (i.e. channel width-depth ratio) and hydraulic indices in a two-dimensional plane. These relationships show clearly that the four channel patterns, i.e. sand-bed meandering, sand-bed braided, gravel-bed meandering and gravel-bed braided, are located in 4 different areas that can be divided by 2 straight lines.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Einstein, H. A., The bedload function of sediment transportation in open channel flows,United States Department of Agricul ture Technical Bulletin, 1950, 1026: 70.
Yang, C. T., On river meanders,Journal of Hydrology, 1971, 13: 231.
van Der Berg, J. H., Prediction of alluvial channel pattern of perennial rivers,Geomorphology, 1995, 12: 259.
Chitale, S. V., Theories and relations of river channel patterns,Journal of Hydrology, 1973, 19: 285.
Church, M., Ferguson, K. I., Kellerhals, R., On the relation of river channel gradient and pattern to discharge and grain size,Reserch Report, Department of Geography, The University of British Columbia, 1982.
Lopold, L. B., Wolman, M. G., River channel patterns: Braided, meandering and straight,U.S. Geol. Surv., Prof. Paper 282E. 1957, 85.
Qian Ning, Zhang Ren, Zhou Zhide,River Channel Processes (in Chinese), Beijing: Science Prrss, 1987.
Carson, M., The meandering-braiding river threshold: a repraisal,Journal of Hydrology, 1984, 41: 301.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Xu, J. Comparison of flow shear stress and energy expenditure between sand- and gravel-bed rivers and some geomorphological implications. Chin.Sci.Bull. 44, 1224–1228 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02885971
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02885971