Numerical simulation of flow through circular array of cylinders using porous media approach with non-constant local inertial resistance coefficient

Aquatic vegetation zone is now receiving an increasing attention as an effective way to protect the shorelines and riverbeds. To simulate the flow through the vegetation zone, the vegetation elements are often simplified as equidistant rigid cylinders, and in the whole zone, the porous media approach can be applied. In this study, a non-constant inertial resistance coefficient is introduced to model the unevenly distribution of the drag forces on the cylinders, and an improved porous media approach is applied to one circular array of cylinders positioned in a 2-D flume. The calculated velocity profile is consistent with the experimental data.