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2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.
Nomenclature
a = interplant length
B = channel witdh
d = average plant diameter
D50 = percentile 50 in soil particle distribution
E = stiffness modulus
f = DarcyWeisbach friction factor
h = uniform water depth
hp = penetration point
Presented at the Fluxes and Structures in Fluids Conference 2001, Moscow, Russia.
70 D. VELASCO ET AL.
1. Introduction
Several studies have examined the influence on and the global hydraulic relation-
ship between flexible roughness due to plants and the consequent flow conditions.
Hydraulic design of grassed irrigation channels lead to the first experimental tests
[18], where a reduction in friction factors above natural vegetative linings for
higher flow rates was reported. The most important contribution was made by
Kouwens studies [79]. Dimensional analysis led him to create a simple model to
evaluate resistance to flow depending on the geometric and mechanical properties
of submerged plants (density, elasticity) and flow conditions. Momentum transfer
mechanics are responsive to vortex organization and flow configuration, as well as
heat and dissolved substances exchange and diffusion between bottom and surface
regions. Specific models were required to accurately solve the basic fluid mechan-
ics interactions between flexible plants in a similar way as with compilant surfaces.
Important works on numerical (ke turbulent schemes) and experimental turbulent
characterization over vegetation have been carried out [4, 13]. Good adjustments
of the results were obtained from rigid and isolated stem covers, but it is clear
that stem flexibility and the heterogeneity of leave density are critical properties
needed to correctly estimate drag forces [11]. Likewise, biological and environ-
mental processes in natural rivers related to the presence of vegetation (nutrient
transport, oxygen rate) and the fact that plankton and larvae growth in the ocean
often take place within Poseidonia fields were of major interest in some stud-
TURBULENT CHARACTERIZATION OVER FLEXIBLE VEGETATED LININGS 71
Figure 1. Longitudinal flume scheme and transversal section. Photograph of a plastic plant.
ies concerning turbulent and contaminant diffusion over submerged and emergent
vegetation [14, 15].
Vegetation induces biological depuration processes, so it is a very effective
environmental measure for reducing nitrates and phosphates poured into rivers.
Moreover, most rivers in populated areas have supported a great antrophic stress
during the last decades, so they have become totally degradated. Revegetation
techniques must be introduced and public opinion demands effective restoration
proceedings, as well as new forms of flood control. As a consequence, a deeper
knowledge of hydromechanics over vegetation is obviously required to guarantee
appropriate and safe hydraulic designs.
In the present study, some experimental tests were conducted under controlled
conditions. In order to simplify the inherent complexity of vegetation properties,
scaled plastic strips were used to model plants. Different plant densities were tested
as well as different flow conditions such as the flow and the ratio of the plant height
to the water depth. The velocity field was measured directly in the experimental
flume with a Acoustic-Doppler sensor (ADV) which is described in Section 2. The
results from the velocity measurements are presented in Sections 3 and 4 and show
a reduction in friction factors due to plant bending for an increasing Reynolds num-
ber as expected. The characteristics of the turbulent flow and the turbulent velocity
profiles as a function of the plant/flow characteristics and an introduction to the
analysis of turbulent structures that may explain some of the turbulent velocity
data, including autocorrelations, integral length-scale distributions and spectra is
included in the discussion and, finally, conclusions are drawn.
2. Experimental Setup
The experiments were performed in the hydraulic laboratory of the Polytechnical
University of Catalonia (UPC) in Barcelona. A 20 m long concrete flume was
used. The cross-section was rectangular, 1 m wide and 0.9 m deep. The gravel
bed was extended in a constant slope of 0.64 (D50 = 2.05 cm). Gravel particles
define a friction factor of ManningStrickler n = 0.025, which reproduces the
72
Density M Discharge (l/s) Velocity (m/s) Water depth Plant deflected Submergence Re Bed roughness
(plants/m2 ) h (m) height k (m) h/k
170 160-20 0.520.12 0.2790.133 0.059 0.15 4.721.0 1.2E51.4E4 Gravel (D = 2 cm)
156 250-20 0.820.17 0.3050.117 0.0530.15 5.751.0 1.7E51.4E4 Gravel (D = 2 cm)
130 160-20 0.710.18 0.2250.124 0.0630.15 3.581.0 1.3E51.5E4 Gravel (D = 2 cm)
100 250-20 0.860.19 0.2900.105 0.0620.15 4.371.0 1.7E51.4E4 Gravel (D = 2 cm)
85 160-40 0.620.25 0.2170.128 0.0580.15 3.751.0 1.1E51.9E4 Gravel (D = 2 cm)
70 250-20 0.910.23 0.2750.086 0.0620.15 4.431.0 1.7E51.4E4 Gravel (D = 2 cm)
25 160-50 0.300.153 0.2530.14 0.1130.15 2.241.0 4.3E41.8E4 Sand (D = 0.1 cm)
D. VELASCO ET AL.
TURBULENT CHARACTERIZATION OVER FLEXIBLE VEGETATED LININGS 73
natural roughness of many local rivers. In Table I the basic flow and geometrical
parameters related to the plant models are described for the seven different config-
urations used. The ranges used for each relevant parameter are indicated. Only one
set of experiments (with a plant density of 25 plants per square meter) used sand to
generate a much smaller bed roughness. Figure 2 describes the overall conditions
of the experimental flume and also shows an example of the plastic plant model
used.
One of the most important features in the investigation was the realistic physical
modelization of natural plant species through plastic, artificial strips. These were
designed to reproduce the mechanical behavior of real local river plants. A PVC
plastic bunch made of 0.15 m long (h = 0.15 m), thin strips approximates some
autochthonous macrophytes shapes (Phragmites Australis-Common Reed), where
aerial parts of the plant are concentrated with an average of 20 leaves per plant.
Also, it was confirmed from independent tests that the stiffness modulus of plastic
(E = 2.38 109 N m2 ) was adequate to the used hydraulic regimes and flow
actions. Kouwens dimensionless analysis shows that a so-called MEI parameter
can be considered as being mainly responsible for the vegetation behavior and thus
to exhibit resistance to flow conditions. The MEI factor (after M = density of
plants per unit area, E = stiffness modulus and I = inertia momentum) repre-
sents the global mechanical and geometrical properties of a group of plants, so we
can modify individual stiffness modulus and inertia or the global plant density to
achieve similar roughness effects.
A simulated vegetated zone was set in a 7 m central zone along the channel and
plastic plants were directly fixed on the gravel bed. Initially, three different densi-
ties of plants were studied (M = 156, 100 and 70 plants/m2 ). Another parameter
that defines the density of plants is a, an averaged interplant distance, so Ma 2 = 1.
According to previous densities, a = 0.08, 0.10 and 0.12 m, respectively. Later
three intermediate new densities were tested (M = 170, 130 and 85 plants/m2 with
a = 0.076, 0.087 and 0.108 m, respectively). Additionally, a sand bed channel
(2.5 m width) was used in some tests. Sand was very uniform (D50 = 1 mm) and a
very low density of plants was set (25 plants/m2 , a = 0.20 m). Spatial distribution
of obstacles has a great influence on friction factors (preferable streamlines and ve-
locity gradients) and a staggered plantation pattern was used (natural distribution),
but the plant seeding was performed as uniform as possible. A pumping system into
the channel set up unitary discharge flows q ranging from 0.0205 to 0.250 m2 /s and
submergences of plant h/k from 1 to 5.75, where h is the normal average water
depth and k is the deflected plant height. Obviously the higher the flow Q = qB,
the smaller the deflected plant height.
A movable weir located downstream the channel was used to obtain uniform
regime conditions along the vegetated zone.
Measurement equipment included graduated rubbers and mechanic limnime-
ters of high precision to register water depths and the deflection of plants. Im-
age analysis of video tapes of some experiments were also useful in detecting
74 D. VELASCO ET AL.
variations in the flow and in the model plant canopy. The discharges were con-
trolled in an upstream triangular weir. Two different types of velocity sensors
were used to measure temporal series of velocity in different positions. A 2D
electromagnetic velocimeter took data of average velocity along a cross-section.
In the detailed study of turbulent structures, a 2D and a 3D acoustic Doppler
velocimeter (SONTEK-ADV) were used after extensive calibration. Analysis of
the range of turbulent length scales (until viscous micro-scales) requires a high
resolution and measurement frequency. Temporal series of 5000 data were taken
per point, with a 25 Hz measurement frequency. Higher measurement frequencies
up to 75 Hz were also tested but they did not produce more accurate data, due to
spatial non-homogeneities in the seeding of the sampling volume, typically 210
cubic milimeters.
Some vertical profiles in the center streamline of the channel were registered,
in order to recognize vertical distribution of velocities, but, because of the geom-
etry of the sensors, only the experiments with deepest flows were analyzed. The
relative position of the sensor inside the vegetation pattern is critical because of
the structures of the wakes of the plants, the local effects of stems in the surround-
ing velocity field, pressure gradients, interaction of the turbulent wakes, and other
sources of coherent structures that had to be treated in an statistical way. In order
to reduce local effects, one or two plants were removed to create a spatialy uniform
flow area, where the sensor was located. We consider that this does not affect the
statistical turbulent properties of the flow.
TURBULENT CHARACTERIZATION OVER FLEXIBLE VEGETATED LININGS 75
Figure 3. Comparison of friction factors between our data and Kouwens artificial roughness
data (extract from [7]).
3. Results
One of the main objectives of this work is to evaluate the global resistance to
flow under different conditions of flow and density of plants. The estimation of
these friction factors, depending on bed roughness, is a very critical point in open
hydraulic flumes. The flexible properties of plants cause a rapidly reduction of rela-
tive roughness (k/ h) for increasing Reynolds numbers or hydraulic power (U.Rh ).
This fact is clearly observed in the retardance curves shown in Figure 2, where
the friction factor (DarcyWeisbach f ) falls progressively. These kind of curves
were first plotted by Ree and Palmer [18], who used a wide range of natural grasses
in their tests. In our study, a minimal value of f is obtained for totally deflected
plants (prone condition where the relative deflection of plant k/ h = 0.40.5) and
this value is very similar to the non-vegetated friction factor (fgravel = 0.15) also
measured. In consequence, the influence of flexible vegetation is attenuated in high
velocity fields, such as in a natural river flooding. Also it may be observed that
the variation of plant density is a factor that becomes minimized for increasing
velocities. In Figure 3, our data is compared with Kouwens retardance curves for
76 D. VELASCO ET AL.
Figure 4. Linear adjustment between dimensionless flexural parameter and relative deflection
of plant k/ h .
plastic strips and, regarding the differencies in the MEI parameter, the evolution of
friction factors becomes really well adjusted. The relationship between the friction
factor and the Reynolds number defined in the same way as done by Kouwen [7],
also shows that the different plant densities do not have much affect on the overall
behavior but there may be differences with a factor of 2.
k/ h = m Ko + c,
Figure 5. Variation of U velocity profiles for different density and discharge. Circles indicate
deflected plant height.
bed. So, in the inner region, both pressure turbulent production and shear turbulent
production are strongly present.
xz = u w , xy = u v , yz = v w ,
Figure 7. Reynolds stresses profiles for (a) vegetated channel, (b) non-vegetated channel.
Figure 9. Vertical profiles of three different tests for M = 25 plants/m2 (sand bed). Dimen-
sionless plots correspond to longitudinal velocity U , Reynolds turbulent stresses and turbulent
intensity for each component.
The submergence ratio is low, gravity stresses are absorbed efficiently by the plant,
which is bending, and vertical turbulent stress comes to zero near the top of the
canopy. This position, where xz = 0, is called the penetration depth, z = hp . No
vertical exchange has been reported inside this region [15], which is called the lon-
gitudinal exchange zone (z < hp ). In our experiments, negative vertical turbulent
stresses have been measured there, and then negative velocity gradients are devel-
oped. Notice the importance of xy and yz in this region. Vertical distribution of
biomass is responsible of the presence of a secondary vortex which locally reverses
the longitudinal to vertical momentum exchange mechanism (xz < 0). The palm
shape or typology of the plastic elements used in our tests accumulates its main
absorbing area at the upper zones where the leaves become totally separated. This
characteristic distribution of palm shape was registered even for totally prone,
bending conditions, quite distinct from the streamlined shapes that are typically
observed in natural riverine species.
Two instances of coupling between the velocity profiles and the horizontal trans-
port of vertical momentum, reflected by the xz profiles are apparent for most of
the experiments. The zero values of vertical turbulent stress are also apparent as
local maxima or minima on the S-shape velocity profiles. We also observe that
at the heights where there is a minima of the xz profile, most of the time, at the
same height there is an inflection point or change or curvature in the corresponding
velocity profile.
In consequence, any attempt to numerically fit a velocity profile in the presence
of vegetation should take into account turbulent stress distribution, which governs
velocity gradients and inflection points.
As a result of the budget ot momentum, mean effective bed shear stresses
are substantially reduced, but an important activity of horseshoe swirls is noticed
(but not yet directly measured). Local scour induces load sediment transport, which
modifies the geometry around the canopy.
4. Integral Scales
The autocorrelation functions Re( ) were calculated at different depths, according
to the expression
u (t).u (t + )
Re( ) = ,
u2
where t is a time scale and u the velocity fluctuation in the flow direction x.
This normalized parameter represents a correlation factor of a recurrent phe-
nomenon that is acting in the flow at different time scales. Assuming Taylors
frozen whirl hypothesis, l = U . , it is possible to find a direct relationship
between time and space scales l, through the mean longitudinal velocity U ,
for homogeneous turbulent conditions. It is necessary to note that homogeneous
turbulence conditions are not present in our tests, but they are accepted as a first
TURBULENT CHARACTERIZATION OVER FLEXIBLE VEGETATED LININGS 83
approximation to investigate the general turbulence state, for lack of direct La-
grangian measures in the flume. As a generic concept, these derived spatial scales
represent the length or the dimension of turbulent structures (whirls) acting and
developing in the streamline direction. Some incoherence could be noticed between
a theoretical Re( ) function and the experimental one, because the tangent at = 0
should be horizontal (symmetrical function). Our results do not show this typical
shape of function because of an insufficient measurement frequency (25 Hz). Apart
from this instrumental limitation, the calculation of integral scales is very interest-
ing and sheds new light on the statistical structure of the turbulent interplant flows.
The integral scale Lx is considered to be a characteristic length scale which is
able to transfer an equivalent momentum by the local turbulence. This parameter
is obtained through integration of Re( ) as
Lx = Re(l) dl.
0
Some interesting relations are obtained from the analysis of integral length scale
vertical profiles for vegetated conditions and densities. The data shows a depen-
dence between the geometrical-spatial distribution of roughness (plants) and the
turbulent structures. For this purpose, we defined and used a geometrical length
scale, a, as the interplant transverse length, see Figure 10. This value represents
an average transversal distance between plants in the bed. If a very uniform dis-
tribution of canopies is established, a is expressed in terms of the density M
as a = 1/M 1/2 . Relationships found between the integral scale Lx and length
a change from the emergent plant condition to the totally submerged condition.
In the first case, when stems are emerging from surface, results show a constant
ratio L/a = 0.3 along the vertical profile and then characteristic vortices are very
uniform and do not merely develop towards the surface. Horizontal whirls (vertical
rotation axis) governs the flow and secondary currents become very important. But,
in totally submerged plant conditions (h > k) there is a tendency, a distribution in
the L/a ratio, inside and above the vegetation (Figure 11). In spite of dispersion
84 D. VELASCO ET AL.
Figure 11. Dimensionless plot of the vertical evolution of integral scales for different plant
density tests. z/k = 1 denotes the top of the deflected canopy.
of experimental data, integral scales increase just inside the vegetation (z < k)
as a consequence of high momentum exchange, but ratios L/a are smaller than
1. Above the top of the plant, it is in the outer region (z > k), where L/a are
greater than 1, but no distribution has been fitted accurately. These results confirm
the idea that the spatial distribution of roughness elements sets a limit and controls
development of large-scale turbulent structures in very concise ranges.
Figure 12. Frequency spectra for three different heights within the plant canopy (h/k = 2.57),
corresponding to heights (z/k = 0.12) near the gravel bed, (z/k = 1) at the deflected plant
top and (z/k = 1.59) corresponding to a point above the canopy.
Figure 13. The same data plotted in Figure 12 for the cited three levels converted to wavenum-
ber spectra. The dashed lines correspond to the wavenumbers due to the deflected plant height
Kk = 2/k, to the plant separation Ka = 2/a and due to an average plant diameter
Kd = 2/d .
The ultimate objective in the future will be to connect this complex hydro-
dynamic turbulent model with sediment transport phenomena, load or suspended
sediment, that takes place inside vegetated regions or wetlands at natural streams.
Several authors have reported that the turbulent structures, which are generated
inside and above vegetation, induces general sedimentation and reduces local
scouring effects.
The reduction of resistance to flow in flexible vegetation has been confirmed
for increasing flows and low relative roughness (k/ h). Under totally prone plant
conditions, variations in friction factors for different plant densities are reduced
and their values fall to a nearly asymptotic friction factor, equivalent to the non-
vegetated one.
There is a direct relationship between vegetative effective roughness and local
plant deformation (deflected plant height). In that sense, the dimensionless function
based on Kouwens investigations is confirmed. Density, stiffness, and geometric
moment of the vegetative model, combined with flow conditions, causes resistance
to flow. The use of the average interplant length scale a, and its use in the presented
modified Kouwen parameter seems a better predictive indicator.
Two different momentum exchange mechanism were analyzed: inside the veg-
etation, where transversal turbulent stresses dominate vertical components (spatial
TURBULENT CHARACTERIZATION OVER FLEXIBLE VEGETATED LININGS 87
Acknowledgements
We thank S. Raffaeli for performing some of the experiments and Alexei Platonov
for technical assistance. Acknowledgement of the support of the Spanish Min-
istry of Science and Technology (REN2000-1013 HID) and the Network of Fluid
Dynamics and Geophysical Turbulence (XT-2000-016) is due.
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