Some aspects of the shape of river meanders

Abstract

From consideration of the probable nature of flow resistance in curved channels, a simple dynamical model is proposed to relate resistance to a criterion of bend curvature applicable both to closed pipes and to open channels. The theory indicates that resistance should fall to a minimum when the radius of channel curvature bears a certain critical ratio to the channel width; and this critical ratio should have approximately the same value for both closed and open channels, irrespectively of scale or of boundary roughness.