Physical forces generated by barge-tow traffic within a navigable waterway

Movement of navigation traffic such as barge tows within a
restricted inland waterway such as the Illinois, Mississippi, or
Ohio Rivers can and will alter the flow field in and around the
moving vessel.  These changes in the flow field will include
altered velocity distributions, increase and/or decrease in the
pressure field, and a directional change of the flow within the
zones of return flows.  Normally, as a barge-tow configuration of
about 105 feet by 1,100 feet in surface area and a 9-foot draft
moves within a river cross section of about 800 feet by 12 feet,
significant changes on the flow field occur.   River traffic such
as this can also generate waves and drawdown, which sometimes
range from a few inches to 12 inches or more. Appropriate
management alternatives for large river systems must accommodate
recreation, water supply, and water quality considerations,
aquatic habitats, commercial navigation, and maintenance of
appropriate environmental quality.  Therefore, the physical forces
associated with the movement of such a large body in the river
must be properly evaluated and clearly understood.  This paper
describes the various physical forces that are either acting on or
are being altered by the movement of navigation traffic within the
river and how these forces can be evaluated and quantified.