A review of sediment deflection in rivers using submerged vanes

ABSTRACT

Diverting or deflecting sediments is an essential part of river training. Under the effect of an induced helical motion, the submerged vanes are best known for deflecting sediments. This study presents current state-of-the-art information on employing submerged vanes for sediment deflection, as well as concluding notes outlining the current knowledge’s limitations and suggestions for future research on sediment deflection using submerged vanes. The analytical background for basic physics of submerged vanes’ operation is first described. The paper then moves on to a thorough examination of vane design parameters based on analytical relationships. A brief overview of the applications of submerged vanes is also included in the paper. A review of recent studies aims at designing a layout of submerged vanes to assist in river training tasks, such as river bends protection, sediment exclusion at water intakes, improving safety at bridges on waterways, improving inland navigation is provided to this end. The study also presented a future program of research on submerged vanes for improving inland navigation in braided rivers. The major lag in literature is a lack of information on macro turbulence and the associated sediment motion induced by the wake of the submerged vane.

KEYWORDS:

• bridge safety
• inland navigation
• scouring
• turbulence
• vortex

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Subscripts

b = near bed;

n = transverse component;

s = stream-wise component, surface value; and

v = vane.