Free meanders evolution and the main stages of their development

Abstract

The initial and five sequential stages of free meanders' evolution are distinguished. Up to the critical value I/L=1.6 the meander is forming as segmented with growing curvature and with predominance of longitudinal displacement. Afterwards the cut-off meander appears or transformation of segmented meander into loop-shaped or sinusoidal one happens, which depends on particular conditions. At the fifth stage the meander is aligned and old channel appears, in the new channel meandering is being renewed.