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Experimental study of free-surface flow instability and bedforms in shallow flows.

January 1, 1980

To test erosion and development of bed sculpture in unstable, pulsating shallow flow, 3 series of experiments were performed in a 10-m flume with flows of Reynolds Number up to 103, Froude Number up to 3.0, and slope up to 2%. In the first, the bed was rigid, in the second and third series planar beds were made from well-sorted and poorly sorted sand, respectively. Development of flow surface instability above the rigid bed showed the following stages: smooth surface; small wavelets; well-developed waves; and rough flow. The second series showed the following sequence: smooth bed; flow-aligned ridge and trough pattern; combined ridge and rhomboid pattern; and rhomboid configuration. The third series demonstrated transverse segregation of the bed material across the ridges.- from Authors

Publication Year 1980
Title Experimental study of free-surface flow instability and bedforms in shallow flows.
DOI 10.1016/0037-0738(80)90016-0
Authors I. Karcz, D. Kersey
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Sedimentary Geology
Index ID 70012232
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse