Predicting channel bed topography in hydraulic fall experiments
Date:
Abstract: We consider inverse methods for predicting the channel bed topography in experiments of hydraulic fall free surface flows. Two mathematical models are used to produce inverse solutions, both based on the potential flow model. Weakly nonlinear approximations are obtained using a forced Korteweg-de Vries equation, and fully nonlinear solutions are obtained using boundary integral methods. The inverse predictions are then compared with experiments. Accurate predictions are obtained for the maximum height of the topography and its constant horizontal level far downstream using the nonlinear method. The weakly nonlinear approximation is shown only to be a good predictor of the maximum height of the topography. The error in the inverse predictions is discussed.