Modelling floodplain conveyance in compound channel flows

Abstract

Floodplain conveyance in compound channel flows is examined through applications of the dynamic flow routing model DWOPER to both laboratory and field data sets. Three different approaches regarding the modelling of off-channel storage are considered, namely, the single-channel approach and two interface-plane methods, which artificially separate main channel flows from floodplain flows, using (i) vertical and (ii) diagonal interface planes. The single-channel method, which views composite flow fields as single units without storage, produced significant differences between simulated and observed stage and discharge hydrographs. The vertical interface method gave generally good results in the case of the laboratory data, but was less successful when applied to the field data. The diagonal interface method, which in this instance applied outward-facing diagonal interface planes at the junctions of the main channel and floodplain zones, produced superior results overal