Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry (ADV) data on flow-vegetation interaction with natural-like and rigid model plants in hydraulic flumes

Value of the Data • These data were obtained with reference to two vegetation representations in partly vegetated channels: a novel experimental arrangement in which vegetation was simulated by using artificial flexible foliated plant stands and a second configuration with rigid cylinders. The value of these data relies in the hydraulic similarity achieved between the two sets of experiments and in the use of natural-like vegetation of complex morphology. • River engineers, environmental scientists and researchers interested in flow-vegetation interaction and hydrodynamic processes in partly vegetated channels can benefit from these data. • The described data are optimal for investigating the flow-vegetation interaction in partly vegetated channels, with reference to the mean and turbulent flow structure. These data can be used for developing and validating models for velocity prediction for vegetated flows.Vegetation, generally present along river margins and floodplains, governs key hydrodynamic processes in riverine systems. Despite the flow-influencing mechanisms exhibited by natural vegetation and driven by its complex morphology and flexibility, vegetation has been conventionally simulated by using rigid cylinders. This article presents a dataset obtained from hydraulic experiments performed for investigating the flow-vegetation interaction in partly vegetated channels. Vegetation was simulated by using both natural-like and rigid model plants. Specifically, two sets of experiments are described: in the first, vegetation was simulated with natural-like flexible foliated plants standing on a grassy bed; in the second, rigid cylinders were used. Experiments with rigid cylinders were designed to be compared against tests with natural-like plants, as to explore the effects of vegetation representation. The following experimental data were produced: 3D instantaneous velocity measured by acoustic Doppler velocimetry, vegetation motion video recordings, and auxiliary data including detailed vegetation characterization. These experiments are unique both for the use of natural-like flexible woody vegetation in hydraulic experiments and for the similarity achieved between the resulting observed vegetated shear layers. These data are expected to be useful in vegetated flows model development and validation, and represent a unique benchmark for the interpretation of the flow-vegetation interaction in partly vegetated channels