ABSTRACT
This study presents a two-dimensional (2-D), numerical approach for describing the movement of floating woody debris and the accumulation of such debris by retention facilities. The numerical model is based on an Eulerian-Lagrangian coupling method for modeling the flow and the movement of woody debris on the water surface. In particular, this model includes a Lagrangian part regarding the 2-D motion of woody debris. The model uses the Distinct Element Method (DEM), which can deal with the collision and the repulsion between woody debris and retention facility’s debris-capturing slits. This model was applied to evaluate the effectiveness of existing retention facilities in river bends of the Seki River in Japan. The simulation results show that the woody debris retention facilities perform very well. Additionally, the numerical model was augmented using a hydraulic model of debris accumulation at the slits.
