Effects of vegetation channel banks and gravel size on flow structure

Vegetation on river banks and bed roughness are important factors affecting flow structure, sediment transport, erosion and geomorphology in rivers. In this experimental study, the impacts of vegetation on flume walls, grain size of bed gravels and aspect ratio on characteristics of shear stress distribution, Coles' wake parameter, the kinematic energy correction factor (α) and the momentum correction factor (β) have been assessed. Reynolds stress distribution illustrates a three-layer pattern when the aspect ratio is smaller than 2. In addition, the aspect ratio and changes of vegetation affect α, β as well as the Coles' wake parameter Π.