Gravel-bed river morphodynamic processes throughout a very large flood
event from numerical modeling
Abstract
Due to the lack of numerical modeling and continuous in-situ monitoring
of flow and sediment transport data, the mechanism of local-scale
morphodynamic processes during very large floods are not fully
understood. Thus, this study employs Delft3D to develop a
two-dimensional (2-D) morphodynamic model to simulate and analyze the
morphodynamic process of a gravel-bed river during an 80-year flood
event in Calgary, Canada. The model was calibrated using velocimetry
data and validated against the measured post-flood bed elevation data.
The coefficient of determination (R2) and ratio of the root-mean-square
error to the standard deviation (RSR) between the modeled and measured
bed elevation was 90% and 0.33, respectively, which demonstrates the
reliability of the model. The modeled flow velocity, bedload transport
rate, surface sediment sizes, and corresponding morphological changes at
different flood stages are presented and analyzed. Results show that bed
incision and the mid-channel bar continuously developed throughout the
flood while bank erosion and the growth of bank-attached bar mainly
happened during the rising and peak periods. We found that the timing
and duration of major morphological changes during a flood event varies
from site to site within a reach, but is similar for similar
morphological units. We also found that the spatial variation of channel
planform is the dominant determinant of major morphological changes
during floods, while flood events trigger the sediment motion and result
in actual deposition or erosion. Improvements are needed in terms of the
modeling of bedload transport and bed stratigraphy.