Heading Up and Head Losses Estimation Due to Rigid Bank Vegetation

Water surface profile is an important tool to design and manage hydraulic structures and watercourses flood control. However, limited studies focused on the effect of aquatic vegetation on the water depths in open channels. So the purpose of this paper is to investigate, how the density and distribution of rigid bank vegetation affect the water depths in terms of heading up and head losses. Eighty-four tests were used, where tests were run for three vegetation densities (0.0113, 0.0028, and 0.0013) along 4.00 m fixed reach with varying Froude number. Water surface profiles were measured and plotted for all cases where it is observed that the water depth increased upstream the vegetated reach then lowered within it and gradually back to the normal depth downstream the vegetated reach. Empirical equations were deduced to determine the heading up and the head losses due to bank vegetation as a function in vegetation density and Froude number. The research presented empirical equations that assist in water management in vegetated open channels.