Dynamics of Gravel-bed Rivers

A basic understanding of the flow processes operating in gravel-bed rivers is a prerequisite for the development of improved design and river management practices. Engineering works which are in harmony with the natural system will enable river habitats, and the visual appearance of the riverscape, to be preserved or enhanced and minimize construction and maintenance costs by maintaining channel stability. Much of the early research on gravel-bed rivers was concerned with stable or regime channels. As most gravel-bed rivers are inherently unstable, it is vital to understand the dynamic adjustment of these rivers and develop appropriate modelling techniques to forecast river response to changed environmental conditions at different space and time scales. The papers in this volume are grouped in 17 topics covering fundamental and applied issues. Considerable progress has been made in the last five years on sediment transport dynamics and recent research offers insights into such topics as equal mobility, selective entrainment, armouring processes and transport of fine material.
More applied topics include mathematical sediment transport and morphological models and the impact of engineering works and catchment development projects on channel stability.