The Impact of Flexible Vegetation Lodging on the Hydraulic Characteristics of Surface Runoff and Erosion

[Objective] This study was aimed at exploring the influence of nearsurface coverage formed by the collapse of flexible vegetation in reducing runoff and erosion yield, and in modulating the hydraulic properties of surface runoff. [Methods] Based on fundamental principles of fluid mechanics and hydraulics, the erosion patterns and hydrodynamic characteristics under lodged flexible vegetation were systemically investigated through indoor hydrodynamic experiments across five levels of coverage, five slope gradients, and three flow rates. [Results] (1) The distribution of erosion volume demonstrated an initial increase followed by a decrease with the increment of slope angle, with the influence of flow rate on the erosion process being more pronounced at steeper slopes. (2) Corresponding to an increase in the coverage of flexible vegetation, and taking 50% coverage as a threshold, the erosion volume generally exhibited a trend of initial reduction followed by an increase. (3) The average flow velocity (v) decreased with increasing vegetative coverage, with the rate of decline becoming gradual as coverage intensified. The variation in Froude number (Fr) mirrored the trend in average flow velocity. The friction coefficient (f) was positively linear correlated with coverage and decreased with an increase in slope gradient; the Reynolds number (Re) demonstrated a higher sensitivity to soil erosion compared to Fr, v, and f. (4) With the increase in vegetation coverage, morphological shear stress intensified (while particle shear stress diminished), playing a pivotal role in the changes in total shear stress, which was positively correlated with vegetation coverage. [Conclusion] The study establishes a solid theoretical foundation for the erosion patterns of slope flow vegetation and facilitates the expansion of open channel hydraulic theories in the realm of slope flows.