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Bank erosion processes within check-dam sequences
Check-dam sequences are built in rivers to stabilize the river bed during flood events. They are often accompanied by heavy bank protection, which is very costly and leads to poor habitat conditions. Can the bank protection be omitted to a certain degree? This thesis will investigate bank erosion processes between check-dam sequences in a physical scale model.
Keywords: River engineering, check-dam sequences, bank erosion, scouring, bed load transport, physical scale experiment
In many streams, it is necessary to secure the river bed during flood events by means of transverse structures. At the same time, longitudinal connectivity should be maintained or restored, meaning that fish and other aquatic species should be enabled to migrate upstream. A large variety of transverse structures are being built: Block ramps, artificial step-pool sequences, check-dam sequences and others. In many cases, bank protection between the transverse structures is needed, to avoid bank erosion and the subsequent stability issues of the transverse structures. However, these bank protection measures are usually very technical, expensive, and offer little ecological value. Thus, the question arises whether bank protection can be minimized or even omitted completely, if the transverse structures are sufficiently interlocked in lateral direction. To do this, bank erosion processes between the transverse structures must be investigated.
- Start date: 22.09.2025
- Language of thesis: English or German
In many streams, it is necessary to secure the river bed during flood events by means of transverse structures. At the same time, longitudinal connectivity should be maintained or restored, meaning that fish and other aquatic species should be enabled to migrate upstream. A large variety of transverse structures are being built: Block ramps, artificial step-pool sequences, check-dam sequences and others. In many cases, bank protection between the transverse structures is needed, to avoid bank erosion and the subsequent stability issues of the transverse structures. However, these bank protection measures are usually very technical, expensive, and offer little ecological value. Thus, the question arises whether bank protection can be minimized or even omitted completely, if the transverse structures are sufficiently interlocked in lateral direction. To do this, bank erosion processes between the transverse structures must be investigated.
- Start date: 22.09.2025 - Language of thesis: English or German
The goal of this thesis is to investigate bank erosion processes within check-dam sequences. The student will perform experiments in a laboratory flume at VAW’s laboratory facilities to quantify the development of the bank erosion. Thus the thesis includes:
- Laboratory work (i.e. hands-on work while preparing and executing experiments and measuring hydraulic and morphological parameters)
- Data analysis (i.e. analysing measurements using software like Python, QGIS, Excel, and others)
- Reporting and presenting the findings
The goal of this thesis is to investigate bank erosion processes within check-dam sequences. The student will perform experiments in a laboratory flume at VAW’s laboratory facilities to quantify the development of the bank erosion. Thus the thesis includes:
- Laboratory work (i.e. hands-on work while preparing and executing experiments and measuring hydraulic and morphological parameters) - Data analysis (i.e. analysing measurements using software like Python, QGIS, Excel, and others) - Reporting and presenting the findings
For further information please contact Andris Wyss (wyss@vaw.baug.ethz.ch).
For further information please contact Andris Wyss (wyss@vaw.baug.ethz.ch).
