River Equilibrium in River Engineering

The life of a river is defined by its journey to the ocean through the route of least effort - the equilibrium state. As the river begins its path at high altitude, it has plenty of water and is assisted by gravity, flowing fast  and creating rapids along the way. It erodes its trail heavily, creating hills on its banks and valleys in its path travelling down steep features to form waterfalls until it reaches a more level plain. Here the river begins to deposit the eroded material it has transported - the sediment. This natural process, often exacerbated by human intervention, excessive erosion and sedimentation, can have devastating effects on the environment. This course on river equilibrium and river engineering will equip you with the relevant skills needed to minimise the effects of soil erosion.

In order for a river to reach its equilibrium state, there needs to be a balance between the amount of sediment in the river and its capacity to carry that load. You will delve into the specifics, using case studies to predict the amount of erosion that can happen in a river system. The course will explore the challenging task of designing stable alluvial rivers, including the significance of channel cross-section and the channel’s slope, to promote stability with no significant scouring or siltation taking place. You will also learn that proper observation and the iterative process of modifying the river’s profile are critical in achieving balance between the incoming and outgoing discharge. 

Next, the course will discuss downstream hydraulic geometry and river meandering using mathematical equations and river surveys with an approximate value for velocity. River depth and width may be determined with only the perimeters of discharge, bed shear stress and the bed material. You will grasp how sediment load can also be measured using satellite imagery and analyse river bend characteristics in terms of the bend length, meander width, the radius of curvatures and the streamline deviations. This course will explain the use of case study examples, Lacey’s equations and the ‘regime relationship’ in determining river behaviour under changing discharge. You will also explore the side stability number’s value to show the ease at which ‘braiding’ may occur in a river system. Knowledge of river equilibrium will give you the confidence to take appropriate action to implement and solve fundamental river engineering problems. If you enjoy engineering, are studying environmental science or merely love the idea of safeguarding our planet, then this course is for you. Don’t hesitate! Start today and become an expert in river sediment and equilibrium!