Sediment transport, river morphology, and river engineering

Abstract

Unit stream power is the most important and dominant parameter for the determination of transport rate of sand, gravel, and hyper-concentrated sediment with wash load. The unit stream power theory can also be applied to the study of surface erosion. The unit stream power theory can be derived from the basic theories in turbulence and fluid mechanics. Minimum energy dissipation rate theory, or its simplified minimum unit stream power and minimum stream power theories, can be derived from the basic thermodynamic law based on the analogy between a thermo system and a river system. It can also be derived directly from mathematical argument for a dissipative system under dynamic equilibrium condition. The minimum energy dissipation rate theory and its simplified theories of minimum unit stream power and minimum stream power can provide engineers the needed theoretical basis for river morphology and hydraulic engineering studies. The Generalized Sediment Transport model for Alluvial River Simulation computer model series have been developed based on the above theories. The computer model series have been successfully applied in many countries for solving hydraulic engineering and reservoir sedimentation problems. Examples will be used to illustrate the applications of the computer models to solving a wide range of river morphology, river engineering, and reservoir sedimentation problems.