MINIMUM FROUDE-NUMBER AND THE EQUILIBRIUM OF ALLUVIAL SAND RIVERS

Rivers adjust towards an equilibrium condition, the stability of which depends upon a set of controlling factors expressed by the Froude number. As alluvial river channels approach stable conditions, the Froude number of the channel flow will tend to attain a minimum value which reflects minimum bed material motion and maximum channel stability, under the constraints imposed by water discharge, sediment load, and particle size. Computer simulations for sand bed rivers show that the Froude number of the flow tends to a minimum value when the equilibrium river tends to a certain hydraulic geometry. Evidence from 57 alluvial sand material rivers and stable canals shows that this simulated hydraulic geometry with minimum Froude number corresponds to the natural equilibrium state. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd