Numerical Modeling of Cohesive Riverbanks: Current methods, challenges, and prospects

The unexpected retreat of riverbanks can significantly influence adjacent infrastructure, floodplain usage, and ecological systems. In our increasingly populated world, where rivers are closely linked with sensitive environments, sudden morphological changes have to be incorporated into planning processes. Changes in the riverbank depend on various factors, including soil composition, pore-water pressure, ship waves, and vegetation. This results in complex erosion mechanisms which are challenging to represent in numerical models. A review of existing studies shows that cohesive banks and the occurring processes, such as the variety of failure mechanisms, the deposition of failed material, or pore-water pressure, are often neglected. This gap limits the predictive accuracy of current models in the case of cohesive banks. Therefore, representing these mechanisms with a 2D model based on the software TELEMAC-2D and considering the random instabilities would enhance the understanding of the morphological development of rivers with cohesive banks. This leads to more accurate predictions and informed decisions that benefit both human activities and ecological systems.