ABSTRACT
In this contribution, two numerical methods are used to predict the free surface
changes in a sand bar due to fluctuations in river stage. One is a fixed mesh,
finite element seepage formulation including Biot's consolidation theory and
the other is a boundary element method solution of the Laplace equation. Both
models give overall predictions that are in good agreement with field data
recorded at an instrumented sand bar in the Colorado River subjected to stage
fluctuations from operation of the Glen Canyon Dam. The boundary element method
appears to offer significant advantage in data preparation and computational
times over the finite element method for the problem studied in this paper.