1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

Modelling of river networks

AuthorPornsak Suppataratarn
Call NumberAIT Diss. no. WA-90-02
Subject(s)Rivers--Mathematical models

NoteA dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
Series StatementDissertation ; no. WA-90-02
AbstractThe River Network model,a combination of the River model (dynamic model) and the Cell-Link model (diffusion model) is capable of simulating both highly fluctuating flows in the rivers and slowly fluctuating flows through the floodplains. Therefore, it is suitable to simulate floods in deltaic regions such as the Chao Phraya delta, the Mekong delta, the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta, etc. The River model is basically formulated according to the one - dimensional de SAINT VENANT flow equation, the four-points implicit finite difference scheme, and solved by the algorithm developed at SO- GREAH . The model has been firstly used to study various force terms of momentum equation in the tidal reach of the Chao Phraya river and the effect of the time weighting factor of the finite difference scheme. The mod el has been further developed to incorporate t he effect of flow interaction between the main channel and berm sections. The proposed method to account for this effect provides correction for the overall section discharge of the compound channel during the overbank flow period. The Cell- Link model is based on the model formulated by ZANOBETTI et al (1970). The River Network model has been successfully applied to simulate flows for the Chao Phraya delta which covers an area of 19,000 km . It is calibrated using the 1980 flood and then verified with the 1983 flood. Good agreements between observed and simulated water levels are obtained for both years. The model has further been applied to simulate the effect of 1980 flood on the present diking system and assumed complete high dike along the rivers. Finally, the mod el has been used to study the effects of flow interaction of the rivers in the Chao Phraya delta. (i) It is found that a breaking down of the momentum equation into various force terms can explicitly identify the role of inertia term in the flow equation. The local inertia force becomes significantly important during the peak water level period when the magnitude of pressure and friction terms are small . Neglecting the local inertia term in the computation of flow in the tidal reach will underestimate the peak water levels, overestimate the reverse peak discharges and underestimate the arrival time of the flood wave. For time weighting factor, 0 , of the implicit finite difference scheme, it is found that by increasing this factor , the peak and fluctuation of water levels and discharges become lower. (ii) The proposed formula for correcting the compound channel discharges is found to be governed by depth, width and roughness but not longitudinal slope. The results of the simulation by incorporating the flow interaction effect using the proposed formula show significant difference from those without the incorporated flow interaction. (iii) The factors which are found to signifcantly effect the simulation results of the Chao Phraya delta are the initial water levels in the floodplains, Manning coefficient and gate operations. The role of floodplains in the study area is found to be very important in governing the flood conditions and be a very effective natural measure in reducing flood level in the river. The present diking alters slightly the 1980 flood conditions in the Chao Phraya river. However flood conditions in (ii) the Thachin river are significantly changed. The assumed complete high dike increases considerably flood levels in the rivers. Both diking cases can effectively reduce water levels in the floodplains. Finally by incorporating the flow interactions be tween berm sections and main channel in the mod el, the water level s and discharges in the Chao Phraya delta is slightly changed for the 1980 flood, however water levels and discharges in the Thachin river and adjacent area are significantly reduced for the flood of 100 year rainfall.
Year1990
Corresponding Series Added EntryAsian Institute of Technology. Dissertation ; no. WA-90-02
TypeDissertation
SchoolSchool of Engineering and Technology
DepartmentOther Field of Studies (No Department)
Academic Program/FoSWater Resources Research Engineering (WA)
Chairperson(s)Suphat Vongvisessomjai;
Examination Committee(s)Tawatchai Tingsanchali ;Gupta, Ashim Das ;Harboe, Ricardo ;Huynh, Ngoc Phien ;Vries, M. de ;
Scholarship Donor(s)The Government of Japan;
DegreeThesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1990


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