Study of Meandering Channel

Abstract

Meander Characteristics play an important role in location, Design and Maintenance of hydraulic
structures such as Bridge, Barrage, Flood embankment and guide bank. A meander forms when moving water in a
stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley and the inner part of the river has less energy and deposits silt. The
present paper deals with the study of meander of Narmada River around Bharuch city. The planform geometric
parameters such as meander wave length (Lm), meander belt width (B), meander bend (Lb) and radius of curvature (Rc)
are measured with the help of available topographical sheets and Google Earth images. In the present study verification
of this models is done using data of Narmada River. Statistical Parameters like Percentage Error and D.R. (Discrepancy
Ratio) are calculated for comparing the performance of selected models. For such research, data’s using Google Earth
images from 1984 to 2016, toposheet of year 1971-72 and U.S. army map nf-43-09. Researchers like William G.P. (1986)
and Leopold & Wolman (1960) have developed many models correlating various meander features. Morphometric
parameters such as Sinuosity Index and Meander Ratio were measured to detect the periodical change.