Experimental study on flow resistance of the inclined river, case study: Shahr-chay River

Mountainous rivers have characterized by steep slope, roughness due to bedrock and coarse aggregation, bed and marginal vegetation as well as severe and rapid spatial displacement of the surface substrate morphology. The protection role of vegetation in the river bank is known as an economic and environmental option that decreases hydraulic conductivity power of the river through the rising of roughness coefficient and rising water level. This study aimed to estimate the flow resistance and roughness coefficient of the river that is affected by the physical and biophysical factors of the Shahr-chay River bed in West Azerbaijan in three selected river reach. Results showed that none of the proposed equations for estimation of roughness coefficient depend on energy slope, but in general, without affecting flow, roughness coefficient in mountain streams depends only on the degree of submergence. Marginal trees can affect Froude number by increasing margin pressure and friction forces, also, enhancing the hydraulic depth, less than critical depth. It was also found the equation for estimating roughness coefficient both with and without marginal trees, have different coefficients and can provides roughness coefficient prediction possibility for mountainous rivers. Comparing the obtained relations both with and without its fringe of trees showed that fringe trees can increase the flow depth and roughness coefficient. Coefficient of determination of all mathematical relations was above 0.99 and calculated relative error was 0.001- 0.008 that demonstrates the suitability of the model to estimate the roughness coefficient.