Mean and turbulent flows in a single-flood plain open channel

This paper presents a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the flow in a single-flood plain open channel. A combination of the multi-section flow visualization technique and the Mass-Consistent Model (Sherman) are employed.This shows the mean and instantaneous 3-D behavior of flow interaction, momentum, mass and energy exchange between the main channel and flood plain.The results of mean flow are compared with the ones obtained by a propeller.Investigation of instantaneous flow structures have revealed that the high momentum flow in the main channel is interacted with the low momentum flow in the flood plain. Due to this interaction reversing flow comes out. This causes a subsidiary flow interaction with the surrounding flow in the flood plain. Moreover, comparison of different relative roughs of the flood plain and main channel show that a roughened flood plain generates a stronger secondary current in the main channel while turbulent quantities show larger values in the flood plain.