Mechanisms of ice accumulation in a river bend – an experimental study

In this study, under conditions of different flow and ice discharge, extensive experiments have been carried out in a 180°-bend flume and an S-shaped bend channel. The phenomenon and mechanisms of ice accumulation in the bend channel have been studied. Ice accumulation along the convex bank was normally thicker than that along the concave bank. The maximum thickness of ice accumulation in the downstream bend channel occurred close to the convex bank. The difference between the maximum thickness and the minimum thickness of ice accumulation was significant. The entire ice accumulation became unstable if flow Froude number was large. When the flow Froude Number is high, the entire ice accumulation becomes unstable. For Froude Number between 0.035 and 0.060, the bottom surface of ice accumulation became waved in form. Small changes in Froude number and ice discharge rate can change a channel from a state of no ice accumulation to uniform accumulation over the channel bend. The higher the ice discharge, the more uniform the ice accumulation. The experimental results have been compared with field observations of ice jams at the Hequ Reach of the Yellow River.