Submerged vanes are an unobtrusive and cost-effective way for water engineers to address many problems associated with sedimentation and river training. A relatively new technology, submerged vanes are a low-impact method for reducing erosion and downstream sediment buildup. Unlike weirs and dikes, submerged vanes bolster current efforts to "re-meander"—or make more natural—rivers that have been modified by humans.
This book is a complete guide to help engineers determine when submerged vanes would be an effective design solution and how they should be planned and installed. Using straightforward language, this book describes the solutions that submerged vanes offer to problems plaguing modern river systems. These solutions include preventing bank erosion, increasing the flood-bearing capacity of a river by reducing sediment deposits, and keeping water intakes and diversions clear and functioning.
Design calculations are illustrated for different river situations and lab results are published to explain the theory behind submerged vanes. In addition, the installation of submerged vanes is detailed in several case studies. This practical manual encourages the transfer of this eco-friendly technology from research into common practice.
River Training and Sediment Management with Submerged Vanes is an essential resource for engineers involved in river engineering and channel design, as well as utility engineers, environmental officials, and managers of river and stream systems.
About the AuthorA. Jacob Odgaard, Ph.D., P.E., is a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Iowa and a research engineer with IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering.