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Self-adjustment Laws of Fluvial Processes
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  • Bao-shan FAN,
  • Wan-guang Sun,
  • Yu-hang Liu,
  • Cheng-zhen Li
Bao-shan FAN
China Water Northeastern Investigation, Design and Research Corporation Limited, Changchun, China

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Wan-guang Sun
China Water Northeastern Investigation, Design and Research Corporation Limited, Changchun
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Yu-hang Liu
China Water Northeastern Investigation, Design and Research Corporation Limited, Changchun
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Cheng-zhen Li
China Water Northeastern Investigation, Design and Research Corporation Limited, Changchun
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Abstract

The appearance of alluvial channel networks is similar to that of trees and their roots what have self-similarity. In the process of a fluvial evolution, alluvial channels are inner-shaping, adjust to achieve a stable equilibrium state, and form some channel patterns that establish balance relationships between the parameters of the local turbulence field of the channel flow and the supplies of the water discharge, sediment transport rate and sediment composition in a river basin. Therefore, the characteristic dimension lΩ of the representing eddy of the turbulence field of the channel flow and the dynamic characteristic length ld of a catchment are supposed to respectively represent the local dynamic factor and the dynamic factor stream along. The geometric dimension of the cross section of a channel is deduced. And then, it is clarified that the self-similarity equation of cross section morphology has similarity relationship conjugated with the self-similarity equation of the widths of a channel network. One of the hydraulic geometry relationship equations reveals that the nominal dimension lΩ and the gravitational acceleration g have the same effects on shaping channel patterns in the fluvial processes. Finally, the governing equations for channels in regime are derived. It is considered that the regime situation can be regarded approximately to that of the bankfull water level of channels, and exponential relationship equations of channels in regime are given systematically. All the results of the study are consistent with the actual statistical data of the channels of Songhua River Basin.