Tests for helical flow in a wide, shallow meandering stream (Adena Brook, Ohio)
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Date
1981
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
If simple methods such as dye, string, tennis balls, tissue paper, and water balloons were found to adequately show flow patterns in a small meandering stream, they would be useful in determining the presence of helical flow in the same and similar streams. The detection of helical flow is important to research on the mechanics of river meandering, to the formation of bed-forms, to the engineering of river training works and to the reconstruction of paleochannels. Methods were tested in Adena Brook in Columbus, Ohio. The general procedure was to place an item in the center of the stream at the approximate entrance of a meander bend and observe the resulting travel path. Results show advantages and disadvantages for each method toward delineating flow patterns although none of the methods directly indicated the presence of helical flow.