Sediment control and flow redistribution with submerged vanes: a review

Abstract

The most challenging issues in rivers include sediment management, outer bank erosion, intake choking, channel bed shoaling, and river meandering. This paper provides a concise review of the newly developed sediment and flow control technique known as the Iowa vane or submerged vane. Submerged vanes are small flow training structures designed to redistribute flow and sediment within the channel cross-section. The structural stability and economic feasibility of submerged vanes, which distinguish them from conventional methods such as dikes and groins, have inspired many researchers to study their use and efficiency in river management over many decades. Various hydrodynamic characteristics, such as flow structure, sediment motion, vortex generation, and scouring around submerged vanes and arrays of vanes, have been reviewed. Additionally, various vane parameters that influence these characteristics are also explained. This paper also underscores current limitations in understanding the flow and sediment behavior around submerged vanes, while also providing recommendations for future research in the field.