Abstract: Bank erosion processes in alluvial rivers would not only affect the channel stability in local reaches, but also cause severe damages to riparian levees. Due to the changes of incoming water and sediment condition as well as reservoir operation, the middle and lower Yangtze River and the lower Yellow River have witnessed frequent bank erosion processes, which pose great pressure on flood control management. Recent research progresses were reviewed from aspects of bank erosion mechanisms, numerical modelling, field monitoring and early-warning techniques. Some key issues to be addressed are also pointed out. In terms of bank erosion mechanism, the mechanics condition and influence factors have been well expounded by previous researches, but the interaction among such factors are to be revealed in depth. The coupling of bank erosion model with hydro-and-sediment dynamic models provides an effective technique for bank erosion prediction; yet the longitudinal variation of channel boundary (soil properties, near-bank topography, vegetation etc.) needs to be characterized more effectively and the bank erosion mechanism should be considered more comprehensively. Field monitoring in practical engineering is mainly focused on the flow and sediment conditions and the near-bank topography in some local reaches. Besides, the early-warning of bank erosion is mostly based on empirical methods; a set of systematic evaluating indicators and an improved method for classifying early-warning levels should be established.

Key words: bank erosion mechanism, numerical modelling, field monitoring, early warning, alluvial river