This thesis describes research carried out to study steep streams. Step-pool sequences, a typical feature of such streams, were found to occur on every steep stream studied in the field. The most important control on the spacing of the steps was width. Flume experiments produced steps (at an average Froude number of 0.88), and showed that the presence of steps increased resistance to flow at lower than step-forming flow and decreased resistance at above step-forming flows. In the field, flow resistance was found to be controlled by sediment characteristics and the amount of step protrusion. The hydraulic geometry of the steep streams was also studied, and was found to differ considerably from hydraulic geometry characteristics of lowland streams. The formation of steps and pools was not found to be related to antidune processes; rather they were built up individually as large particles captured other large particles that had been entrained by the near critical flow. It was concluded that it is not the absolute values of slope and discharge that determines whether steps form. Near critical flow and high relative roughness appear to be the only requirements necessary. Previous equations were generally found to perform poorly when used with the experimental data, and an attempt to model the velocity profile using sediment characteristics and considering stresses on the flow also produced poor correlation with the actual field data. Modifications to these were made with some success, especially in the ability to predict friction factor based on relative roughness using D84 . Flume velocity profiles identified characteristic velocity profiles at different locations within the step-pool sequence and the presence 'S-shaped' profiles downstream of the step.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Vane-type in-stream structures and step pool storm conveyance (SPSC) are more ecologically friendly alternatives to traditional stream channel stabilization and stormwater conveyance techniques. Vane-type structures have been widely accepted as elements of stream restoration projects and are regularly implemented in streams throughout the United States. However, these structures commonly experience partial or total failures of function or stability, often due either to improper installation or misapplication. This study undertook a thorough review of the available design guidance for the single-arm vane, j-hook vane, cross vane, and w-weir, which revealed that the existing guidance is composed of non-standardized recommendations largely based on practitioner experience and rules of thumb. Existing guidance was synthesized with current structure research and practitioner surveys to create factsheets for each of the four structures and the SPSC, with the intent of improving structure application and offering concise general guidance. This study also endeavored to improve the design of the SPSC by determining the most accurate of several common prediction methods for Manning's roughness coefficient n, used in SPSC design velocity calculations. This was done by using Rhodamine WT dye tracer experiments to determine n values during storm flows in two SPSC structures in Annapolis, MD, which were then compared to predicted n values. Values of Manning's n determined in the SPSCs at low flows (0.28-12) often exceeded the predicted n values (-0.17-3.9) by several orders of magnitude. Though the applicability of these results is limited, an increase in design n to 0.1-0.2 is still recommended. / Master of Science / Vane-type in-stream structures are stone or wood structures installed within a stream channel for purposes such as streambank stabilization or aquatic habitat creation. Step pool storm conveyance (SPSC) is a technique which converts an existing steep stream or gully into a step-pool channel. Both of these techniques are more ecologically friendly than many traditional stream channel stabilization or stormwater conveyance techniques such as riprap or concrete storm drains. Vane-type structures in particular have been widely accepted as elements of stream restoration projects and are regularly implemented in streams throughout the United States. However, these structures commonly experience partial or total failures, either through structural collapse or failure to function properly. This is often either because they were improperly installed or because they were installed at a stream site where they were inappropriate or unnecessary. A review of the available guidance for the design of these structures revealed that the existing guidance is composed of non-standardized and sometimes contradictory recommendations which are largely based on designer trial and error and rules of thumb, rather than on the results of scientific experiments or modeling. The goal of this study was to improve the success of vane-type in-stream structures and the SPSC by providing factsheets offering clear and concise general design guidelines and sound recommendations for structure application. Flow studies of two SPSC structures in Annapolis, MD were also conducted to improve the design of that structure by measuring its flow characteristics in the field.

Laboratory tests were undertaken to establish the formative mechanism for steps and pools in steep mountain streams. They indicated that the formation of steps and pools is associated with high intensity, low return interval events and the processes of armouring/paving and antidune formation. Lower than formative discharges give the structures their step-pool appearance, and under such discharges they are extremely stable. Step-pool streams may be modelled by a succession of artificial steps or weirs. Wooden steps were placed in a laboratory channel for this purpose, and clear water flow, clear water scour, and sediment transport tests undertaken for a range of discharges and channel slopes. Three distinct flow regimes were observed for the clear water flow and clear water scour tests. They were stable tumbling flow, unstable tumbling flow, and shooting flow. Sediment transport complicated the regimes from low transport rates. Unstable tumbling flow (clear water flow) at a low slope was shown to be caused by the breaking of standing waves at a theoretical maximum of 0.142. For higher slopes (and including clear water scour tests), unstable tumbling flow was shown to be associated with the physical system geometry preventing the submerged hydraulic jump from developing fully. However, unstable tumbling flow was also caused at lower discharges by sediment waves which were a feature of some test runs with sediment transport. Even so, unstable tumbling flow is likely to occur under field conditions only rarely. With clear water scour, the scour dimensions corresponded to the ultimate static limit. That is, no sediment remains suspended by jet action as occurs for the dynamic limit of scour. For clear water flow and clear water scour, resistance to flow may be predicted by logarithmic equations. Resistance to flow with sediment transport correlated strongly with the average scour hole size. A sudden increase in average (and maximum) velocities indicated that with sediment transport, the erosive ability of a step-pool system may increase sharply as pools become drowned by sediment. For a given discharge, increasing the sediment transport rate beyond this drowning led to net deposition, but no real increase in average velocity. With sediment transport, sediment waves and water waves occurred (independently) despite steady inputs of both water and sediment. This behaviour parallels reports of sediment movement as waves in mountain streams. This tendency toward non-uniformity of water and sediment motion suggests that such behaviour may be explicable in terms of recent advances in nonlinear thermodynamics.