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About the specification of erosion flux for soft stratified cohesive sediments

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Abstract

The present paper deals with the specification of bed erosion flux that accounts for the effects of sediment-induced stratification in the water column. Owing to difficulties in measuring the bed shear stress τb and the erosive shear strength τs, we suggest a series of methods that combine laboratory and numerical experiments. A simplified turbulent transport model that includes these effects helps to quantify τb and τs. Focusing on soft stratified beds, the present study considers erosion rate formulas of the form ε=εf exp {[Tb-Tsα]β} where β is a model constant (β=1 for Gularte's (1978) formula and β=1/2 for Parchure's (1984) formula). First, the bed erosive strength profile τs(Z) is adjusted by “forcing” the turbulent transport model with measured erosion rates. Second, three procedures are suggested to determine the erosion rate formula coefficients εf and α: a global procedure and two different layer-by-layer procedures. Each procedure is applied to an erosion experiment conducted in a rotating annular flume by Villaret and Paulic (1986). The use of the layer-by-layer procedure based on a least squares fitting technique provides a closer fit than the global procedure. The present study points out the complementarity of experimental and numerical approaches and also suggests possible improvements in laboratory test procedures.

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Abbreviations

A:

turbulence model empirical constant

b:

turbulence model empirical constant

c:

volumetric suspended sediment concentration

C:

depth-averaged volumetric suspended sediment concentration

g:

acceleration of gravity

h:

water depth

q:

turbulent velocity

r0 :

mean radius of the annulus

s:

turbulence model empirical constant

S1 :

turbulence model empirical constant

S2 :

turbulence model empirical constant

S4 :

turbulence model empirical constant

S5 :

turbulence model empirical constant

t:

time

u:

horizontal velocity

u* :

friction velocity

U0 :

entrainment velocity

vc :

empirical constant

wf :

sediment fall velocity

z:

vertical coordinate (positive upward)

α:

erosion rate formula coefficient

αc :

turbulence model empirical constant

β:

erosion rate formula constant

γt :

eddy diffusivity

ε:

sediment erosion rate

εf :

“floc erosion rate” coefficient

Κ:

von Karman constant

Λ:

turbulent macroscale

ν:

water kinematic viscosity

νt :

eddy viscosity

ρ:

sediment-water mixture density

ρf :

water density

ρs :

sediment dry density

σ:

transformed vertical coordinate

τb :

flow-induced bed shear stress

τs :

erosive bed shear strength

Ω:

relative rotation speed of the top ring with respect to the annulus

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d'Ecologie Numérique, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, U.R.A. 1363, Bâtiment SN3, 59655, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France

    Georges Chapalain

  2. Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering Department, University of Florida, 336, Weil Hall, 32611, Gainesville, Florida

    Y. Peter Sheng

  3. Laboratoire de Ecoulements Géophysiques et Industriels, Institut de Mécanique de Grenoble, BP 53X, 38041, Grenoble, France

    André T. Temperville

Authors
  1. Georges Chapalain
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  2. Y. Peter Sheng
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  3. André T. Temperville
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Chapalain, G., Sheng, Y.P. & Temperville, A.T. About the specification of erosion flux for soft stratified cohesive sediments. Math Geol 26, 651–676 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02086866

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