Lattice Boltzmann method for simulating flows in open-channel with partial emergent rigid vegetation cover

Flows in open-channel with partial emergent rigid vegetation cover are simulated using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) described by the 2-D nonlinear shallow water equations. The effect of vegetation is represented with the vegetation roughness coefficient, which is related to the vegetation density, diameter of the vegetation elements and drag coefficient. The model is verified by three numerical tests: flow in a 180° curved open channel with partial vegetation cover at the outer bank, flow in a rectangular channel with a finite patch of vegetation and flow in a rectangular channel with a vegetated bank. Numerical results are compared with the experimental data, and the good agreement proved that the presented model can model the vegetated channel flows correctly.