Water surface configuration in open-channel bends depends on the geometry of the channel. Mathematical expressions for longitudinal and transverse water surface profiles are derived from the equations of motion with the aid of order of magnitude analysis. Computed surface profiles and superelevation obtained by using mathematical expressions agree well with experimental measurements of subcritical flows in trapezoidal and natural bed meandering models. The result reveals that the channel bed topography is an important factor in determining the superelevation and water surface profiles. Inadequacy of conventional approximate methods to evaluate the superelevation is also examined.
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Yen et al. (1971) studied this question.