![Sample our Earth Sciences journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5930/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Earth-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
Precise estimation of boundary shear force distribution is essential to deal with various hydraulic problems such as channel design, channel migration and interaction losses. Bed shear forces are useful for the study of bed load transfer, whereas wall shear forces presents a general view of channel migration pattern. In this paper, a first ever attempt is made to study the distribution of boundary shear force in a highly sinuous (sinuosity = 2.04) trapezoidal meandering experimental channel. Besides, a separate analysis is carried out at the inner as well as outer banks at the bend apex to include the curvature effect. Thus, the objective is to evaluate the percentage of wall shear as well as bed shear force to the total boundary shear force which will pave for the better understanding on scouring and depositional patterns in meandering channels. Based on experimental results, the effect of aspect ratio and sinuosity on wall (inner and outer) and bed shear forces are calculated and empirical equations are developed to determine the percentage of wall and bed shear forces in smooth meandering channel for in bank flows only.
Acknowledgements
The authors thankfully acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India for providing financial support for creating the research facilities in Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics laboratory at the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India. The paper is part of the experimental outcomes created by DST support at the Institute. This article belongs to the papers presented at the Hydro-2012 conference held at IIT Bombay on December 7–8, 2012 that were short-listed by the Editor for publication in this Journal after re-review and revisions where necessary.