The accuracy of three different approaches for velocity profiles assessment during high floods, when the velocity points sampling is carried out only in the upper portion of the flow area, has been investigated. The first two methods assume the classical logarithmic law with additional terms, to take account of the dip-phenomenon in the velocity profile. The third one is based on the entropy theory and uses the maximum flow velocity occurring in the flow area. A sample of velocity measurements carried out at Pontelagoscuro gauged section (Po River, Italy), has been considered for the analysis. Six flood events have been selected and the accuracy of the investigated methods has been evaluated in terms of mean error in estimating both the mean velocity along each sampled vertical and the mean flow velocity. For high floods, the logarithmic law and the entropic approach were found quite accurate; however, the ability of the latter in reproducing the velocity profiles only by sampling the maximum flow velocity has been shown. Therefore, a procedure for velocity measurements based on the entropic approach has been proposed. The procedure allows one to both to shorten remarkably the time of the velocity sampling and to quickly estimate the discharge.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
April 01 2011
Velocity profiles assessment in natural channels during high floods
Tommaso Moramarco;
1National Research Council, Research Institute for Geo-Hydrology Protection, Via Madonna Alta 126, 06128 Perugia, Italy
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Carla Saltalippi;
Carla Saltalippi
2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Perugia, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Vijay P. Singh
Vijay P. Singh
2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Perugia, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
Hydrology Research (2011) 42 (2-3): 162–170.
Article history
Received:
June 01 2009
Accepted:
January 11 2010
Citation
Tommaso Moramarco, Carla Saltalippi, Vijay P. Singh; Velocity profiles assessment in natural channels during high floods. Hydrology Research 1 April 2011; 42 (2-3): 162–170. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2011.064
Download citation file: