Interactions of Submerged Vanes with a Flow of Two Phases: Experimental Study of Bank Erosion in Huallaga River

In Peru there is an absence of effective measures to control the movement of sediments in rivers. We can mention cases like the erosion of the left bank of the Ica river. As a result bank erosion damaged an important road near on its side. A similar case is the overflow of the Quirripe river, La Libertad, Perú. The overflow caused the destruction of the side road and hindered navigation and transportation. Several areas were affected by erosion due to the increase of the Marañón River. Many family members were damaged and their houses were damaged due to the overflow and erosion that was generated in the riverbank.

In relation to the difficulties of the management of sediments in Perú, the absence of effective measures has generated problems and damages to the infrastructure. Abutment scour has caused very expensive damages of essential infrastructure of the country for its repair. Also It is a problem related to the transport of sediment: The deposition of sediments generates navigation interferences in the rivers. Consequently, sediments reduce the transport capacity of rivers. Therefore, It’s necessary to carry out studies that allow the development of techniques and achieve an optimal use of rivers. One technique to sediment management and mitigate erosion is the use of submerged vanes for the stabilization of river bank and river bed. Thus this investigation evaluates the behavior of the riverbank material and determine the effects of submerged vanes given their characteristic shape and type material in the river Huallaga. This investigation covers from Tingo María, Huánuco, Perú, as an initial part to the downstream where It flows into Marañon river, San Martín, Perú. In this way the investigation recommend the disposal of submerged vanes in vulnerable areas of the river for its eventual scour solution.

To determine the arrangement of the submerged vanes in Huallaga river, the vulnerable zones of the river were compared in a simulation with the use of submerged plates and without their use. In this way it was possible to evaluate the influence of the submerged vanes on the flow and propose riverbank protection by submerged vanes as a technique in Perú.