Flow Around Bends in Rivers

2nd International Conference
New Trends in Water and Environmental Engineering for Safety and Life: Eco-compatible Solutions for Aquatic Environments
Capri (Italy), June 24-28, 2002
internet: www.capri2002.com
FLOW AROUND BENDS IN RIVERS

W.H. Graf, K. Blanckaert
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale, Laboratoire de Recherches Hydrauliques, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

Tel (+41) 21 6932375, Fax (+41) 21 6936767, E-mail koen.blanckaert@epfl.ch
KEYWORDS: bends, secondary motion, turbulence, curved flow.
SUMMARY
Flow in river bends is an important problem for river engineers and environmentalists.
Since a few years, extensive experimental research on this matter has been done at the
Laboratoire de Recherches Hydrauliques (LRH) at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale
Lausanne. This paper summarizes some of the main experimental findings.
It mainly reports on an experimental investigation of the flow around a river bend over a
mobile-bottom topography in a laboratory flume. Detailed measurements of all three mean
velocity components as well as all six Reynolds stresses have been made on a fine grid in the
outer half of the cross-section at 60º into the bend. Spatial distributions of the mean
downstream velocity, the cross-stream motion as well as the mean-flow and turbulent kinetic
energy are presented.
The downstream velocity increases in outward direction and the core of maximum
velocities is found in the lower part of the water column close to the outer bank. The cross-
stream motion contains two cells of circulation: besides the classical helical motion (center-
region cell), a weaker counter-rotating cell (outer-bank cell) is observed in the corner formed
by the outer bank and the water surface. Both cells are also evidenced by the spatial
distribution of the downstream vorticity. As compared to straight uniform open-channel flow,
a considerable reduction of the turbulence activity is observed in the outer-half of the cross-
section. The outer-bank cell and the reduced turbulence activity exert a protective effect on
the outer bank and the nearby bottom and thus influence the stability of the flow perimeter
and the bend morphology.
In the study of flow in river bends, often simplified flow equations have been adopted,
which are not justified in the light of the here-reported experimental findings. A more
complete system of simplified flow equations has been proposed and solved.

Flow around bends in rivers Page 1
INTRODUCTION
A watercourse, such as a stream, a river, a mountain creek or a gully, is an important agent
in our natural environment. Any one watercourse is usually not straight and curves (bends) of
various intensity are more or less the rule. Flow around a channel bend (see Figure 1) presents
an interesting problem for engineers and environmentalists. Thus to maintain our
watercourses economically manageable and environmentally viable, a certain knowledge of
the hydraulic behaviour of the flow around bends is necessary. However, it is not that such a
topic has not been subject to previous research (Shukry, 1949; Rozovskii, 1957; de Vriend,
1981; Odgaard, 1984), but new experimental as well as theoretical techniques have now
become readily available.
Downstream velocity: vs
Transversal velocity: vn
z Cross-stream circulation:
Center-region cell
s Outer-bank cell
n
Vertical
velocity: vz
Figure 1. Definition sketch of flow in an open-channel bend
Since a few years, the Laboratoire de Recherches Hydrauliques (LRH) at the Ecole
Polytechnique Fédérale (EPFL) at Lausanne has looked into this matter, notable by building a
rather unique experimental facility equipped with modern instruments and data-acquisition
systems. Evaluation of those data allowed a more detailed description of the structure of the
flow and permitted to draw some interesting conclusions, valuable for engineers and
environmental scientists as well. The bend of a channel which is investigated is a strongly
curved one, being R/B=5 (see Figure 2). Less curved bends will show the same hydraulic
tendency, but obviously the various observed phenomenon will be less pronounced.
A series of experiments was conducted in a small-sized laboratory channel. The results of
this study yielded results beyond expectations and have been communicated in scientific
journals (Blanckaert, 2001a; Blanckaert and Graf, 2001a). The most interesting findings are
herewith presented. Subsequently, and based on our experience, a larger-sized channel was
conceived and built; an extended series of experiments is and will be obtained and
communicated at a later date.

EXPERIMENTAL INSTALLATION
The small channel (see Figure 2) of vertical side walls consisted of a straight approach
section followed by a left-turning 120º bend. The initially horizontal bed of d 50=2.1 mm
became morphologically deformed by letting the flow, Q, pass across. The resulting
characteristic bend topography and the flow structure were investigated and this at the outer-
half part of one single section at 60º into the bend. Note, symbols and hydraulic conditions are
summarized in Figure 2.
Three-dimensional instantaneous velocities were measured with an acoustic Doppler
velocity Profiler (ADVP),(see Blanckaert and Graf, 2001a); subsequently the mean velocities,
vs, vn, vz, the turbulent velocities, vs’, vn’, vz’, and the turbulent correlations, v s′v n′ , etc., could
be calculated.
2 [m]
0
-1
-2 B/2 inlet
-3 CL
-5 -4 0 -1 d 50 basin
pool -6 1
0
R2 2
3
4 0°
5
30
6
°
point bar R=-2m

-4
R4 -5 60°
4 bottom levels [cm] indicated with

3 respect to reach-averaged bottom level
2
-6 1
pool 0
-7
-5 -3 -1 90°
n
z reference system
- (s-n): horizontal
s
- z : vertical
20 °
1
outlet
basin
R B d50 Q H Ss U Cf Re Re * Fr R/B R/H B/H

[m] [m] [mm] [l/s] [m] [‰] [m/s] [/] [103 ] [/] [/] [/] [/] [/]
-2.0 0.40 2.1 17 0.11 1.89 0.38 0.008 42 70 0.36 5 17.9 3.6
R: centreline radius of curvature (negative along the n-axis) Cf: friction factor
B: channel width τb : bottom shear stress, τ b ρ = C f U 2
d 50: median grain size diameter of the bed material Fr =U/(gH)1/2 : reach-averaged Froude number
Q: flow discharge Re=UH/ν: reach-averaged flow Reynolds number
H: reach-averaged flow depth ≈ depth at centreline Re*=u *ks/ν: reach-averaged particle Reynolds number
Ss: reach-averaged water-surface gradient at the centreline ν: molecular viscosity
U: reach-averaged velocity k s: Nikuradse equivalent sand roughness
Figure 2. Experimental set-up and hydraulic conditions

MEAN VELOCITIES AND VORTICITY

The distribution of the downstream velocity, v s – normalized by the reach-averaged
velocity, U – is shown in Figure 3b. The maximum velocity, vs,max=0.57m/s, is found in the
lower part of the flow depth close to the outer bank; in a straight-uniform flow it would be
located close to the water surface at the centreline of the channel and is logarithmically
distributed. The velocity distribution in a bend, no more logarithmic (see Figure 3a), presents
thus a three-dimensional picture.
outer bank
1
CL
1 log. profile 1.2
0.8 2 measured profile 1.3
12 cm from bank 1.35
0.6 3 calculated
1.4
z/h
0.4 1.45
vs,max
1.48
1
0.2 3 2 1.45
1.4
1.35
1.3
0
0.8 1 1.2
z vs 1.2
0 0.2 0.4 vs/U 1
vs /Us 0.5
n
20 [cm] 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
center-region outer-bank region
CL
vz s
0.25 vz /U
vn vn /U
20 [cm] 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
Figure 3. (a) Measured and calculated vs-profile at 12 cm from outer bank compared to logarithmic
profile; (b) downstream velocity, vs/U; (c) cross-stream motion, (vn,vz)/U.

The vectorial cross-sectional motion is shown with Figure 3c. Two regions can be clearly
distinguished. There is a centre-region cell turning clockwise, essentially due to the
superelevation on the outside of the bend; this is the well-known helical motion characteristic
of bend flow (Thompson, 1876; Rozovskii, 1957). There is also an outer-bank cell turning
anticlockwise; this one is rarely observed. A weak outer-bank cell can be seen in the
laboratory data reported by Mockmore (1943) and Einstein and Harder (1954), but also in the
field data of Bathurst et al. (1977) and Thorne and Hey (1979). This cell is weak, thus
difficult to measure and probably strongest in sharp bends. Its importance should however not
be underestimated, since it will have a stabilizing effect on the erosion of the outer bank, but
also on the mixing abilities in this region. The intensities of these cells are:
v n2 + v z2 outer− bank cell < v n2 + v z2 center− region cell << U
O(0.01) m/s < O(0.04) m/s << 0.38 m/s
and U = 0.38 m/s < vs = O(1.35U) = O(0.5) m/s
Both circulation cells have been successfully simulated using a non-linear k-ε turbulence
closure (Jia et al., 2001).
This double-cells structure is further evidenced by the downstream vorticity distribution

(see Figure 4).
-0.22 0.1
-0.2 0
-0.1
0.9 0
0.7 0.5 0.1
0.3
-0.05
0.4 0
-0.05
z ωs 0
ωsH/U
n
20[cm] 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
Figure 4. Distribution of downstream vorticity, ωs=(∂vz/∂n-∂vn/∂z)

TURBULENT NORMAL STRESSES AND SHEAR STRESSES

The downstream component of the turbulent normal stresses, v s′2 , is dominating over the
vertical and transversal ones; this indicates a pronounced 3D structure. The turbulent kinetic
energy, k = 1 2 (v s′2 + v n′2 + v z′2 ) , normalized by the characteristic shear stress evaluated at the
measuring section - u∗,60 = gRh (−∂zS ,60 ∂s) =0.045 m/s, where −∂zS,60 ∂s is the local
downstream water-surface gradient in the centreline and Rh is the hydraulic radius – is shown
in Figure 5a. When compared to the mean flow kinetic energy, K = 1 2 (v s2 + v n2 + v z2 ) , shown
in Figure 5b, an interesting picture is evident. The distribution of k and K are more or less
opposite; the position of the maximum of K nearly coincides with the minimum of k and
positive/negative gradients of K correspond to negative/positive gradients of k. The
normalized depth-averaged mean flow kinetic energy, K ( 12 U 2 ) (see Figure 5c) is nearly
constant in the outer-bank region at 1.9, but decreases towards the shallower inner half-
section. The normalized depth-averaged turbulent kinetic energy k /( 12 u∗2,60 ) (see Figure 5c)
decreases from the outer bank to a minimum value of k /( 12 u∗2,60 ) ≈0.9 at some distance from
the bank and then increases towards the centerline. Close to the bank, the flow kinetic energy,
K, decreases considerably, while the turbulent kinetic energy, k, tends to increase.
outer bank
CL
3
1.6 1.9 2.75
2 2.5
2.05 2.25
2
2.1 1.75
2.15
1.5
1.25
kmin
1.75 1.1
2.2 Kmax 2
1
0.9 0.85 0.81 1.25
0.82 0.9
2.25 1
1.1
0.4
1.25
1.9
z 1.6
s 0.4 1.2 z s 1.5
K /( 12 U 2 ) 0.8
0.4 k /( 12 u∗2,60 )
n n
20 [cm] 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 20 [cm] 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
2
2
K ( 12 U )
1.5
k ( 12 u∗2,60 )
0.5
depth-averaged values
Figure 5. (a) Normalized mean-flow kinetic energy, K ( 12 U 2 ) ; (b) normalized turbulent kinetic
energy, k /( 12 u∗2,60 ) ; (c) and their depth-averaged values, K ( 12 U 2 ) and k ( 12 u∗2,60 ) .

The distribution of the normalized turbulent shear stress, −ρv n′ v z′ ρu∗2,60 , is shown with
Figure 6a. Extrapolation onto the outer bank shows (see Figure 6b) a characteristic linear
distribution, increasing from the water surface towards the bed.

0
0.25
0.23
0.2
depth below water surface [m]

0.15
0.1 -0.05
0.05
0 0.03
-0.25 -0.1 0.05
-1 -0.5 0.1
-0.75
-1.25 0.15 -0.1
-1.4 0.2
0.23
there may exist a larger
gradient near the bottom
z
s -0.15 linear extrapolation
0.25
2
−ρv s′v n′ ρu ∗,60
n 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
2
20 [cm] 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 τ bank ρu∗,60
Figure 6. (a) Isolines of normalized Reynolds shear stress, −ρv n′ v z′ ρu∗2,60 ; (b) normalized bank shear
2
stress, τ bank ρu∗,60 .
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
In the study of flow in bends, the equations of motion in the downstream (s) and
transversal (n) direction have often been simplified (Engelund, 1974) as:
∂zS d  dv s 
0 = −g + νt  (1)
∂s dz  dz 
d  dv 
2
vs ∂z
− = −g S +  ν t n  (2)
R ∂n dz  dz 
νt is the eddy viscosity and zS is the elevation of the water surface above the horizontal
(s,n)-plane. These equations concern steady, developed flow in the mid-width region, n=0,
where vz≈0. According to Equation (2), the transversal component of the cross-stream
circulation, vn, results from the imbalance of the centrifugal force and the constant transversal
pressure gradient. Using a parabolic eddy viscosity profile, νt(z), in Equation (1) yields a
logarithmic vs(z)-profile. Inserting this in Equation (2), an analytical expression for the

transversal velocity profile vn(z) is obtained, being of the form (see Rozovskii, 1957; de
Vriend, 1977):
H
vn = U s fct( C ) (3)
R
where Us is the depth-averaged downstream velocity, H is the flow depth at the centerline
and C is the Chezy friction factor. The transversal velocity in the center-region cell is thus
found to be proportional with the curvature ratio H/R.
Assuming a logarithmic profile for the vs(z)-component (see Figure 3a) and the resulting
proportionality of the transversal velocity with the curvature ratio H/R are in the light of our
experiments (Blanckaert and Graf, 2001b) not justified. Our measurements with a strongly
curved bend made it possible (see Blanckaert and Graf, 2002a), to evaluate the different terms
in the complete downstream equation of motion; this revealed the following. In the center-
region cell, but less so in the outer-bank cell, the advective momentum transport term by the
cross-stream circulation, is of the same order of importance as the gravity term. Consequently,
Equation (1) should be rewritten as:
 ∂v s v sv n  ∂zS d  dv s 
v n +  = −g + νt  (4)
 ∂n R  ∂s dz  dz 
Earlier, Yen (1972) already proposed this equation, based on an order-of-magnitude
analysis, but was unable to present a solution. Solutions for the v s and vn-profiles were
calculated from Equation (4) and Equation (2) by Blanckaert (2001b) and Blanckaert and Graf
(2002b). This resulted in a vertical flattening of the vs-profile, as shown in Figure 3a, and a
less than proportional increase of the transversal velocity with H/R. The calculated results
agree fairly well with the measurements.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Cross-stream circulation, which superimposes on the downstream motion, is a
characteristic phenomenon in channel bends. The classical helical motion – here called the
center-region cell – is well-known in literature. However, in addition to it, the presented
experiment allowed the detection of another circulatory motion – here called the outer-bank
cell (Figure 3) – which turns in a sense opposite to the center-region cell. Being located close
to the outer-bank in the bend, it serves as an outer-bank-protecting buffer zone, by keeping the
core of maximum velocity away from the erosive bank. Another important feature of our
experiment is the reduced level of turbulence activity in the region near the outer bank (see
Figure 5), which also has a protective (against bank erosion) effect on the outer bank of the
bend. It is expected that these features are less pronounced for a channel bend which is less
strong, R/B>5.

REFERENCES
Bathurst J.C, Thorne, C.R and Hey, R.D. (1977). Direct measurements of secondary currents
in river bends. Nature 269, p. 504-506.
Blanckaert K. (2001a). discussion on: Bend-flow simulation using 2D depth-averaged model,
by Lien H.C. et al. J. Hydr. Engng. ASCE 127(2), p. 167-170.
Blanckaert K. (2001b). A model for flow in strongly curved channel bends. Proc. 29th-IAHR
congr., J.F. Kennedy Student Paper Comp, Beijing, China, p. 42-50.
Blanckaert K. and Graf W. H. (2001a). Mean flow and turbulence in open-channel bend. J.
Hydr. Engng ASCE 127(10), p. 835-847.
Blanckaert K. and Graf W. H. (2001b). Experiments on flow in a strongly curved channel
bend. Proc. 29th-IAHR congr., Theme D, Vol. I, Beijing, China, .p. 371-377.
Blanckaert K. and Graf W. H. (2002a). Velocity distribution in sharp open-channel bends.
(submitted for publication).
Blanckaert K. and Graf W. H. (2002b). Secondary circulation and vertical flow structure in
open-channel bends. I: Presentation and analysis of a non-linear model. (submitted for
publication).
de Vriend H. J. (1977). A mathematical model of steady flow in curved shallow channels. J.
Hydr. Res. IAHR, 15(1), p. 37-54.
de Vriend H. J. (1981). Steady flow in shallow channel bends. Report No. 81-3, Lab. Fl.
Mech., Dept. Civ. Eng., Delft Univ. Techn., Delft.
Einstein H. A. and Harder J. A. (1954). Velocity distribution and the boundary layer at
channel bends. Trans. AGU, 35(1), p. 114-120.
Engelund F. (1974). Flow and bed topography in channel bends. J. Hydr. Div. ASCE, 100(11),
p. 1631-1648.
Jia Y., Blanckaert K. and Wang S. S. Y. (2001). Numerical simulation of secondary currents
in curved channels. Proc. 8th FMTM-congress, Tokyo, Japan.
Mockmore C.A. (1943). Flow around bends in stable channels. Trans. ASCE, 109, p. 593-628
(incl. discussions).
Odgaard A.J. (1984). Flow and bed topography in alluvial channel bend. J. Hydr. Engng.
ASCE, 110(4), p. 521-536.
Rozovskii I. L. (1957). Flow of Water in Bends of Open Channels, Ac. Sc. Ukr. SSR, Isr.
Progr. Sc. Transl., Jerusalem, 1961.
Shukry A. (1949). Flow around bends in an open flume. Proc. ASCE, 6, p. 713.
Thomson W. (1876). On the origin of windings of rivers in alluvial plains, with remarks on
the flow of water round bends in pipes. Proc. Royal Soc. London, 25, p. 5-8.
Thorne C.R and Hey R.D. (1979). Direct measurements of secondary currents at river
inflexion point. Nature 280, p. 226-228.
Yen B. C. (1972). Spiral motion of developed flow in wide curved open channels. In Shen H.
W. (ed.), Sedimentation, Symp. to honor Prof. H. A. Einstein, ch. 22, p. 1-33.


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2nd International Conference

FLOW AROUND BENDS IN RIVERS

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale, Laboratoire de Recherches Hydrauliques, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

KEYWORDS: bends, secondary motion, turbulence, curved flow.

W.H. Graf, K. Blanckaert

Figure 1. Definition sketch of flow in an open-channel bend

W.H. Graf, K. Blanckaert

point bar R=-2m

4 bottom levels [cm] indicated with

R B d50 Q H Ss U Cf Re Re * Fr R/B R/H B/H

Figure 2. Experimental set-up and hydraulic conditions

W.H. Graf, K. Blanckaert

MEAN VELOCITIES AND VORTICITY

center-region outer-bank region

W.H. Graf, K. Blanckaert

O(0.01) m/s < O(0.04) m/s << 0.38 m/s

and U = 0.38 m/s < vs = O(1.35U) = O(0.5) m/s

This double-cells structure is further evidenced by the downstream vorticity distribution

Figure 4. Distribution of downstream vorticity, ωs=(∂vz/∂n-∂vn/∂z)

W.H. Graf, K. Blanckaert

TURBULENT NORMAL STRESSES AND SHEAR STRESSES

W.H. Graf, K. Blanckaert

center-region outer-bank region

depth below water surface [m]

W.H. Graf, K. Blanckaert

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

W.H. Graf, K. Blanckaert

W.H. Graf, K. Blanckaert

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