Influence of floodplain and riparian vegetation in the conveyance and structure of turbulent flow in compound channels

Abstract

The present study aims at understanding the changes in the channel conveyance and in the turbulent flow structure due to the presence of both submerged vegetation in the floodplains and riparian vegetation. An experimental campaign was carried out comprising uniform compound channels flows (i) without any kind of vegetation, (ii) with synthetic grass in the floodplains, (iii) with synthetic grass in the floodplains and rods in the interface between main channel and the floodplain and (iv) with synthetic grass in the floodplains and artificial shrubs in the interface between main channel and the floodplain. For comparison, the water depth in all flow cases was kept constant. Accurate acoustic Doppler velocimetry was used to evaluate the 3d velocity field and the turbulence structures characteristics.