Flume Investigation of Hydraulics of Nature-like Patchy Vegetation

Spatial distribution of riparian vegetation is a critical factor altering flow hydrodynamics and transport processes in rivers.Distribution of riparian vegetation in the form of distinct patches is typical for riverbanks and floodplains, but scarcely investigated from the viewpoint of its hydraulic impacts.The present study aims to investigate reconfiguration of the riparian vegetation patches in relation to the mean flow conditions.Experiments were conducted over a range of mean flow velocities (0.1 to 0.6 m/s) and under low relative submergences (h/hd 1 and 2).The results showed a substantial increase in the patch reconfiguration and flow resistance with the increase in velocities.The extent of these phenomena depends on the patch density and shape.