Accumulation of frazil ice along a river bend

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of transverse currents on frazil ice accumulation along a river bend. To this end, field observations of a frazil ice jam along the ShiYaoBu bend reach of the Yellow River, in China, and a model study in the laboratory were carried out. Field measurements of flow velocities verified that there are two transverse circulations under an ice cover. The characteristics of frazil ice accumulation along a river bend have been discussed. The laboratory model study shows that the transverse accumulation of frazil ice depends not only on the hydraulic variables, such as Froude number, but also on the central angle of the river bend (inclined to the entrance cross section). Equations describing the transverse accumulation of frazil ice along a bend have been established. The dependency of the accumulation thickness in the longitudinal direction on the Froude number and ice discharge has been derived.