Characteristics of interactions among a row of submerged vanes in various shapes

•A simulation technique for calculating bed profiles induced by arrays of submerged vanes in any shape is presented.•An innovative approach to simulate the boundary effects of channel banks, water surface, and channel bed is proposed.•The influences of vane shapes on the induced bed profiles and transverse near-bed velocities are explored.•Characteristics of interactions in array of vanes in various shapes are investigated.