Showing papers by "Giovanni Seminara published in 2005"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the morphodynamic equilibrium of the inlet and the channel of the erodible channel connecting an inlet to a tidal sea and found that small-scale forms are found to develop in the channel and in the basin, while larger-scale formations, i.e., tidal bars, developed in the channels.
Abstract: [1] This paper tackles the problem of morphodynamic equilibrium of tidal channels and tidal inlets. We report a laboratory investigation of the process whereby an equilibrium morphology is established in a tidal system consisting of an erodible channel connected through an inlet to a tidal sea. Observations suggest that a morphodynamic equilibrium is eventually established both in the inlet region and in the channel. The latter exhibits a weakly concave bed profile seaward, a weakly convex profile landward, and the formation of a “beach” close to the landward end of the channel. A second set of observations concerns the formation and development of both small- and large-scale bed forms. In particular, small-scale forms are found to develop in the channel and in the basin, while larger-scale forms, i.e., tidal bars, develop in the channel. A last observation concerns the formation of an outer delta in the “sea” basin. Results concerning the long-term equilibrium of the bed profile in the channel compare fairly satisfactorily with recent theoretical results. The nature and characteristics of the observed small-scale forms appear to be consistent with theoretical predictions and field observations concerning “fluvial” ripples and tidal dunes; bars show features in general accordance with recent results of a stability theory developed for tidal bars. The hydrodynamics of the inlet region exhibits a strongly asymmetric character, as observed in the field and predicted in early theoretical works, while the overall characteristics of the outer delta conform to available empirical relationships.
79 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated morphodynamic influence in meandering streams through a series of laboratory experiments on curved and straight flumes and confirmed the suitability of the recent theoretical developments (Zolezzi & Seminara 2001) that indicate the occurrence of two distinct regimes of morphodynamic influences depending on the value of width ratio of the channel.
Abstract: The issue of morphodynamic influence in meandering streams is investigated through a series of laboratory experiments on curved and straight flumes. Both qualitative and quantitative observations confirm the suitability of the recent theoretical developments (Zolezzi & Seminara 2001) that indicate the occurrence of two distinct regimes of morphodynamic influence, depending on the value of the width ratio of the channel ). Experimental results give qualitative and quantitative support to the theoretical predictions and allow us to clarify the limits of the linear analysis.
52 citations