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A test of equilibrium theory and a demonstration of its practical application for predicting the morphodynamics of the Yangtze River
Author(s) -
Huang He Qing,
Deng Caiyun,
Nanson Gerald C.,
Fan Beilin,
Liu Xiaofang,
Liu Tonghuan,
Ma Yuanxu
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.3522
Subject(s) - beach morphodynamics , bed load , yangtze river , channel (broadcasting) , river regime , flow (mathematics) , geology , open channel flow , alluvium , relation (database) , basis (linear algebra) , mathematics , sediment transport , hydrology (agriculture) , geometry , sediment , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , computer science , geography , telecommunications , archaeology , database , china
Taking the width/depth ratio of a river channel as an independent variable, a variational analysis of basic flow relationships shows that alluvial‐channel flow adjusts channel geometry to achieve stationary equilibrium when the condition of maximum flow efficiency (MFE) is satisfied. As a test of the veracity of MFE and to examine if this theory of self‐adjusting channel morphodynamics can be practically applied to large river systems, this study examines the degree of correspondence between theoretically determined equilibrium channel geometries and actual measurements along the middle and lower Yangtze River. Using four different forms of the Meyer‐Peter and Müller bedload relation and relations of flow continuity and resistance we show that the Meyer‐Peter and Müller bedload relation modified on the basis of MFE theory predicts channel dimensions most accurately when applied to the middle and lower Yangtze River. This provides convincing evidence supporting MFE equilibrium theory. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.