Abstract: The adjustment of riverbed cross-section in alluvial river not only affects the floodwater discharge, the ability of sediment transport, but also influences the dike and dam security and stability, the planning and using of land on the bank on both sides. It is of great significance to research the regularity and mechanism of channel cross-section in alluvial river. In this paper, the research achievements and progresses in the regularity of riverbed cross-section adjustment in alluvial river are summarized, and suggestions for further research are proposed as follows: (1) The existing research methods should be improved. Empirical analysis based on measured data are convenient but limited, which is only adaptive to specific examples; whereas mathematical model can only simulate the adjustment of small river or artificial channel in laboratory, and needs to be improved for complex natural rivers; (2) More attention should be paid to the merging of theoretical research and field data analysis, and understanding on the regularity and mechanism of channel cross-section should be enhanced;(3) The application field of computing methods of riverbed cross-section adjustment should be extended.

Key words: alluvial river, morphology of riverbed cross-section, riverbed evolution