Incised River Meanders: Evolution in Simulated Bedrock

A flume 60 feet (18.28 meters) long was employed to study the controls of lateral and vertical incision of a sinuous stream in simulated bedrock. When 100 percent of the available sediment load was entrained the flow incised vertically at bends. When less than 100 percent of the load was entrained the flow downcut laterally outward at bends. The effects of helicoidal currents and shear stress localization explain the loci of erosion and deposition.