Bank erosion and planimetric evolution of alluvial meandering streams

Abstract

In this paper, an attempt is made to explain why, in the absence of geological constraints, some rivers remain regular, in which case they tend to closely follow sine-generated curves, while others become irregular. The considerations rest on the present understanding of physical mechanisms determining both meandering bed deformation and bank erosion, as well as laboratory experiments carried out at Queen's University. The experimental observations suggest that the degree of erodibility of the bank plays an essential role in determining the "planimetric fate" of the stream. © 2013 WIT Press.