Stage-discharge assessment in compound meandering channels

Discharge measurements for overbank flow were carried out in a two-stage meandering channel with various bed slopes, sinuosities, and water depths. The effect of bed slope and sinuosity on discharge was found to be significant. A simple design equation for the conveyance capacity, based on dimensional analysis, is proposed. This equation may be used to estimate the stage-discharge curve in a meandering channel with overbank flow. Predictions of discharge using existing methods and the proposed method are compared and tested against the new measured discharge data and other available overbank data. The strengths and weaknesses of the various methods are discussed.