Eddies and Scouring Around Stones in a Current
How round and triangular obstacles shape the water's hollows and gravel beds
Three red-chalk notes with vortex diagrams examine how flowing water is deflected by stones. Water striking a round body scours equal hollows on either side beyond it (note 23); the gravel it scours up settles where the rebounding currents meet; and a triangular stone with a face set squarely to the flow causes the greatest scouring where the water strikes it. Several eddy patterns around round and triangular obstacles are drawn down the right and foot of the sheet.
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Equal scouring beyond a round stone
Water striking a round body will make equal hollows (scourings) beyond the two sides of that body.
Where scoured gravel settles
The gravel scoured out by the impacts of the water will come to rest where the motions made by the rebounds meet one another.
The triangle's face and the greatest scour
The face of a triangular stone set at more equal angles to the water's course will cause great scouring by the water that strikes upon it.