Hydrodynamic parameters diversification in the watercourse with the rapid hydraulic structures (case study of the Porębianka River, Polish Carpathians)

Abstract

In modern river training practices and philosophy one can notice coming more into use ecological friendly hydraulic structures. Those, which are especially needed for river training works, as far as expectation of Water Framework Directive is concerned, are rapid hydraulic structures (RHS). What is important, RHS in general do not stop fish and invertebrates against migrating upstream, provide natural and esthetical effects within the river channel, still working as hydraulic engineering structures. The main aim of the research was to describe changes of values of those parameters upstream and downstream of the RHS’s and to find out their influence on hydrodynamics of the stream. The study was undertaken on the Porębianka river in the Gorce Mountains, Polish Carpathians. Along this paper we described and measured some hydraulic parameters within the reach of chosen rapid hydraulic structures, which we found in the field. Observed hydrodynamic parameters within the reach of the RHS’s depend on the location of measuring point and the influence of individual part of the structure. At the same time maximum velocity does not always create the bigger shear force, because it is also depend on the velocity distribution along the hydrological profile