Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation of flow resistance exerted by rigid emergent vegetation in open channel

  • Research Article - Special Issue
  • Published:
Acta Geophysica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The issue of the resistance to flow in open channels with vegetation has been considered by several researchers mainly experimentally, but the case of rigid emergent vegetation with linear stem arrangement is scarcely investigated. In the present work, the results are presented of an experimental investigation related to the case of rigid emergent vegetation that has been modeled by placing small rods on the bottom of a laboratory flume in aligned configuration. Tests have been executed by varying the flow rate, the bottom slope and the number and the diameter of the rods, by directly measuring the drag force exerted by the flow on a given number of rods, and the water-level profiles. A new expression has been devised for the drag coefficient as a function of the vegetation density, weakly dependent on the stem Reynolds number that allows the use of the former also in large-scale cases. The experimentally measured forces exerted by the flow on the rods have been also compared with the results obtained by applying the momentum equation in integral form to given control volumes, exhibiting a general agreement, but also showing that the use of this technique for the evaluation of the drag coefficients can give rise to not negligible errors. One of the experimental tests has been numerically simulated with the RANS technique (Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations), and it is found that the results, mainly in terms of water-level profiles, confirm the ability of such a numerical technique in investigating this complex category of flow cases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aberle J, Jarvela J (2013) Flow resistance of emergent rigid and flexible floodplain vegetation. J Hydraul Res 51(1):33–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alfonsi G (2009) Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations for turbulence modeling. Appl Mech Rev. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3124648

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alfonsi G, Lauria A, Primavera L (2012a) Structures of a viscous-wave flow around a large-diameter circular cylinder. J Flow Vis Image Process 19(4):323–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alfonsi G, Lauria A, Primavera L (2012b) Flow structures around a large-diameter circular cylinder. J Flow Vis Image Process 9(1):15–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alfonsi G, Lauria A, Primavera L (2013a) Proper orthogonal flow modes in the viscous-fluid wave-diffraction case. J Flow Vis Image Process 24(4):227–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alfonsi G, Lauria A, Primavera L (2013b) On evaluation of wave forces and runups on cylindrical obstacles. J Flow Vis Image Process 20(4):269–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alfonsi G, Lauria A, Primavera L (2015) The field of flow structures generated by a wave of viscous fluid around vertical circular cylinder piercing the free surface. Procedia Eng 116:103–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alfonsi G, Lauria A, Primavera L (2017) Recent results from analysis of flow structures and energy modes induced by viscous wave around a surface-piercing cylinder. Math Probl Eng. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/5875948

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armanini A, Righetti M, Grisenti P (2005) Direct measurement of vegetation resistance in prototype scale. J Hydraul Res 43(5):481–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baptist MJ (2005) Modelling floodplain biogeomorphology. Ph.D. thesis. Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands. ISBN 90-407-2582-9

  • Bennett SJ, Simon A (2004) Riparian vegetation and fluvial geomorfology. American Geophysical Union, Washington

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bodnár T, Příhoda J (2006) Numerical simulation of turbulent free-surface flow in curved channel. Flow Turbul Combust 76:429–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calomino F, Alfonsi G, Gaudio R, D’Ippolito A, Lauria A, Tafarojnoruz A, Artese S (2018) Experimental and numerical study of free-surface flows in a corrugated pipe. Water 10:638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carollo FG, Ferro V, Termini D (2002) Flow velocity measurements in vegetated channels. J Hydraul Eng 128(7):664–673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carollo FG, Ferro V, Termini D (2005) Flow resistance law in channels with flexible submerged vegetation. J Hydraul Eng 131(7):554–564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng NS, Nguyen HT (2011) Hydraulic radius for evaluating resistance induced by simulated emergent vegetation in open-channel flow. J Hydraul Eng 137(9):995–1004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi SU, Kang H (2004) Reynolds stress modeling of vegetate open-channel flows. J Hydraul Res 42(1):3–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Defina A, Bixio AC (2005) Mean flow and turbulence in vegetated open channel flow. Water Resour Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2004WR003475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Ippolito A, Lauria A, Alfonsi G, Calomino F (2018) Flow resistance in open channel with rigid emergent vegetation. In: Armanini A, Nucci E (eds) Proceedings of the 5th IAHR Europe Congress—new challenges in hydraulic research and engineering

  • D’Ippolito A, Ferrari E, Iovino F, Nicolaci A, Veltri A (2013) Reforestation and land use change in a drainage basin of Southern Italy. iForest 6:175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erduran KS, Kutija V (2003) Quasi-three-dimensional numerical model for flow through flexible, rigid, submerged and non-submerged vegetation. J Hydroinform 5(3):189–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fathi-Moghadam M, Kouwen N (1997) Non-rigid, non-submerged vegetative roughness on floodplains. J Hydraul Eng 123(1):51–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer-Antze T, Stoesser T, Bates P, Olsen NRB (2001) 3D numerical modelling of open-channel flow with submerged vegetation. J Hydraul Res 39(3):303–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman GE, Rahmeyer WH, Copeland RR (2000) Determination of resistance due to shrubs and woody vegetation. Technical Report-00-25. US Army Corps of Engineers. Engineer Research and Development Center

  • Hirt CW, Nichols BD (1981) Volume of fluid (VOF) method for the dynamics of free boundaries. J Comput Phys 39:201–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ishikawa Y, Mizuhara K, Ashida S (2000) Effect of density of trees on drag exerted on trees in river channels. J For Res 5:271–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Issa RI (1986) Solution of the implicitly discretized fluid flow equations by operator-splitting. J Comput Phys 62:40–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James CS, Birkhead AL, Jordanova AA, Sullivan JJ (2004) Flow resistance of emergent vegetation. J Hydraul Eng 42(4):390–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarvela J (2002) Flow resistance of flexible and stiff vegetation: a flume study with natural plants. J Hydrol 269:44–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarvela J (2004) Determination of flow resistance caused by non-submerged woody vegetation. Int J River Basin Manag 2(1):1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jasak H (1996) Error analysis and estimation for the finite volume method with applications to fluid flows. Ph.D. thesis. Imperial College, London, UK

  • Kim D, Stoesser T (2011) Closure modeling and direct simulation of vegetation drag in flow through emergent vegetation. Water Resour Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2011WR010561

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kothyari UC, Hayashi K, Hashimoto H (2009) Drag coefficient of unsubmerged rigid vegetation stems in open channel flows. J Hydraul Res 47(6):691–699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kouwen N, Fathi-Moghadam M (2000) Friction factors for coniferous trees along rivers. J Hydraul Eng 126(10):732–740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kouwen N, Unny TE (1973) Flexible roughness in open channels. J Hydraul Div 99(5):713–728

    Google Scholar 

  • Li RM, Shen HW (1973) Effect of tall vegetations on flow and sediment. J Hydraul Div 99(5):793–814

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindner K (1982) Der strömungswiderstand von pflanzenbeständen. Mitteilungen 75, Leichtweiss-Institut fur Wasserbau, TU Braunschweig (Doctoral thesis)

  • Liu D, Diplas P, Fairbanks JD, Hodges CC (2008) An experimental study of flow through rigid vegetation. J Geophys Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JF001042

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López F, García M (1997) Open-channel flow through simulated vegetation: Turbulence modeling and sediment transport. US Army of engineers waterway experiment station wetlands research program. Technical Report WRP-CP-10

  • López F, García M (2001) Mean flow and turbulence structure of open channel flow through non-emergent vegetation. J Hydraul Eng 127(5):392–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menter FR, Kuntz M, Langtry R (2003) Ten years of industrial experience with the SST turbulence model. In: Proceedings of the 4th international symposium on turbulence, heat and mass transfer, Antalya, Turkey, Begell House Inc., 12–17 Oct 2003, pp 625–632

  • Mulahasan S, Stoesser T (2017) Flow resistance for in-line vegetation in open channel flow. Int J River Basin Manag 15(3):329–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neary VS (2003) Numerical solution of fully developed flow with vegetative resistance. J Eng Mech 129(5):558–563

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nepf HM (1999) Drag, turbulence and diffusion in flow through emergent vegetation. Water Resour Res 35(2):479–489

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nepf HM, Vivoni ER (2000) Flow structure in depth-limited vegetated flow. J Geophys Res 105(C12):28547–28557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OpenFOAM® (2012) User guide. https://cfd.direct/openfoam/user-guide/. Accessed 3 Dec 2017

  • Pasche E, Rouvé G (1985) Overbank flow with vegetatively roughened flood plains. J Hydraul Eng 111(9):1262–1278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petryk S, Bosmajian G (1975) Analysis of flow through vegetation. J Hydraul Div 101(7):871–884

    Google Scholar 

  • Righetti M (2008) Flow analysis in a channel with flexible vegetation using double averaging method. Acta Geophys 56(3):801–823

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlichthing H (1979) Boundary layer theory. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimizu Y, Tsujimoto T (1994) Numerical analysis of turbulent open channel flow over a vegetation layer using a k–ε turbulence model. J Hydrosci Hydraul Eng 11(2):57–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephan U, Gutknecht D (2002) Hydraulic resistance of submerged flexible vegetation. J Hydrol 269(1–2):27–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoesser T, Wilson CAME, Bates PD, Dittrich A (2003) Application of a 3D numerical model to a river with vegetated floodplains. J Hydroinform 5(2):99–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoesser T, Kim SJ, Diplas P (2010) Turbulent flow through idealized emergent vegetation. J Hydraul Eng 136(12):1003–1017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stone MC, Shen HT (2002) Hydraulic resistance of flow in channel with cylindrical roughness. J Hydraul Eng 128(5):500–506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanino Y, Nepf HM (2008) Laboratory investigation of mean drag in random array of rigid, emergent cylinders. J Hydraul Eng 134(1):34–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Temple DM (1986) Velocity distribution coefficients for grass-lined channels. J Hydraul Eng 112(3):193–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vargas-Luna A, Crosato A, Calvani G, Uijttewaal WSJ (2016) Representing plants as rigid cylinders in experiments and models. Adv Water Resour 93:205–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Tang HW, Yuan SY, Lv SQ, Zhao XY (2014) An experimental study of the incipient bed shear stress partition in mobile bed channels filled with emergent rigid vegetation. Sci China Technol Sci 57(6):1165–1174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox DC (1998) Turbulence modeling for CFD. DCW Industries, La Cañada

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu F, Shen HW, Chou YJ (1999) Variation of roughness coefficients for unsubmerged and submerged vegetation. J Hydraul Eng 125:934–942

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the reviewers and the editor for their constructive suggestions and comments, which were very helpful in improving the quality of this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, Via Bucci 42b, 87036, Rende, Cosenza, Italy

    Antonino D’Ippolito, Agostino Lauria, Giancarlo Alfonsi & Francesco Calomino

Authors
  1. Antonino D’Ippolito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Agostino Lauria
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Giancarlo Alfonsi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Francesco Calomino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonino D’Ippolito.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

D’Ippolito, A., Lauria, A., Alfonsi, G. et al. Investigation of flow resistance exerted by rigid emergent vegetation in open channel. Acta Geophys. 67, 971–986 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-019-00280-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-019-00280-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation