On the mechanics of incompressible multiphase suspensions

The mechanics of incompressible multiphase particulate suspensions in a liquid is considered. The basic conservation laws are derived via a spatial averaging method. The thermodynamics of the multiphase system is studied and the appropriate constitutive equations are developed. The basic equations of motion of various constituents are derived and discussed. The model includes the effects of pressure differences in various phases, diffusion forces, equilibrated forces and virtual mass forces. A simplified version of the model is used and the problem of gravity sedimentation is treated. It is shown that the model leads to a stable uniform settling rate.     

Hindered settling of mud flocs: Theory and validation

This paper deals with settling of highly concentrated cohesive sediment suspensions. We evaluate a new hindered settling formula. New settling experiments on these highly concentrated suspensions are described to test this formula. For the analysis of the experiments both an analytical and a numerical method are used. Kynch's analytical theory, based on the method of characteristics is used to study the type of settling. Furthermore, a 1DV-point model is used for analysis of the settling process. We have implemented the new hindered settling formula in this model, which is tested against experimental data. It is concluded that the data are described fairly well. The analysis with the theory of Kynch [1952. A theory of sedimentation. Transactions of the Faraday Scociety 48, 166–176] and the model show that highly concentrated suspensions can settle with either one interface or with two interfaces, depending on the initial concentration and the shape of the settling flux function.     

SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT IN HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS

Withdrawal of water from a river into a canal involves the construction of a barrage or a dam across the river depending on whether the river is perennial or not. The design of the reservoir upstream of the dam and of the canal requires consideration of the sediment load carried by the river in case the river is sediment-laden. The basic equations concerning morphological changes in such rivers are discussed with particular reference to computation of reservoir sedimentation. The hydraulics of lined canals carrying wash load is examined from the point of view of limiting transport capacity and changes in frictional resistance. Lastly, the methods of design of sediment extraction devices like settling basins and vortex chambers are presented.     

Modelling hyperconcentrated flow in the Yellow River

A large amount of the total sediment load in the Chinese Yellow River is transported during hyperconcentrated floods. These floods are characterized by very high suspended sediment concentrations and rapid morphological changes with alternating sedimentation and erosion in the main channel, and persistent sedimentation on the floodplain. However, the physical mechanisms driving these hyperconcentrated floods are still poorly understood. Numerical modelling experiments of these floods reveal that sedimentation is largely caused by large vertical concentration gradients, both in the channel during the rising stage of the flood, as well as on the floodplains, during a later stage of the flood. These vertical concentration gradients are large because the turbulent mixing rates are reduced by the increased sediment‐induced density gradients, resulting in a positive feedback mechanism that produces high deposition rates. Erosion prevails when the sediment is largely held in suspension due to hindered settling, and is strengthened by the reduced wetted cross‐section caused by massive sedimentation on the floodplain. Observed patterns of erosion and sedimentation during these floods can be qualitatively reproduced with a numerical model in which sediment‐induced density effects and hindered settling are included. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In situ measurements of sediment settling characteristics in floodplains using a LISST‐ST

Due to a lack of data on settling velocities (w_s) and grain size distributions (GSDs) in ?oodplain environments, sedimentation models often use calibrated rather than measured parameters. Since the characteristics of suspended matter differ from those of deposited sediment, it is impossible to derive the w_s and GSD from the latter. Therefore, one needs to measure in situ suspended sediment concentrations (SSCs), settling velocities, effective grain sizes and sedimentation ?uxes. For this purpose we used the LISST‐ST, a laser particle sizer combined with a settling tube. In 2002 (twice) and 2004, we located the LISST‐ST with an optical backscatter sensor and sediment traps in two ?oodplains in The Netherlands: one along the unembanked IJssel River, another along the embanked Waal River. Measurements revealed that the SSC in the ?oodplains varied in relation to the SSC in the river channel. Smaller ?ocs dominated the SSC, while larger ?ocs dominated the potential sedimentation ?uxes. The in situ GSD in the IJssel ?oodplain was signi?cantly coarser than in the Waal ?oodplain, while the dispersed median grain sizes were equal for both ?oodplains. Therefore, the dispersed median grain size was two to ?ve times smaller than the effective one. The in situ grain size exhibited a signi?cant positive relationship with w_s, although the w_s for the largest ?ocs showed high variability. Consequently, the variability in sedimentation ?uxes was also large. In the actual sedimentation ?uxes, and hence in sedimentation models, in situ grain sizes up to about 20 µm can be neglected. In ?oodplain sedimentation models the relation between settling velocity and in situ grain size can be used instead of Stokes's law, which is only valid for dispersed grain sizes. These models should also use adequate data on ?ow conditions as input, since these strongly in?uence the suspended sediment characteristics. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sedimentation processes in silt-rich sediment systems

Sediment found in China’s Yangtze and Yellow River systems is characterized by large silt fractions. In contrast to sand and clay, sedimentation and erosion behaviour of silt and silt–clay–sand mixtures is relatively unknown. Therefore, settling and consolidation behaviour of silt-rich sediment from these river systems is analysed under laboratory conditions in specially designed settling columns. Results show that a transition in consolidation behaviour occurs around clay contents of about 10 %, which is in analogy with the transition from non-cohesive to cohesive erosion behaviour. Above this threshold, sediment mixtures consolidate in a cohesive way, whereas for smaller clay percentages only weak cohesive behaviour occurs. The settling behaviour of silt-rich sediment is found to be in analogy with granular material at concentration below 150 g/l. Above 150–200 g/l, the material settles in a hindered settling regime where segregation is limited or even prevented. The results indicate that for modelling purposes, multiple sediment fractions need to be assessed in order to produce accurate modelling results.     

Finite element computation of turbulent flows

After reviewing briefly the major alternatives in the mathematical modelling of turbulent flows, this paper combines the kinetic energy-dissipation (k−ε) turbulent flow model and a mean flow model in a Galerkin finite element model applicable to incompressible turbulent two-dimensional flows with recirculation. Application of this model to examination of flow and particle settling in a rectangular sedimentation basin is presented; this approach completely determines the non-uniform velocity field and also resolves much uncertainty about the choice of values for both the eddy viscosity and the turbulent transport coefficients for settling. Finally, the expected directions of future research work in finite element simulation of turbulent flows are delineated.     

Multi-scale analysis for transport of fine settling particles through an ice-covered channel in a laminar flow condition

The current research deals with the dispersion of fine settling particles in a fluid flowing through an icecovered channel under the laminar flow condition. An analytical solution of the two-dimensional convection-diffusion equation, based on the multi-scale homogenization technique, is obtained. To validate the current study, analytical results for the dispersion coefficient are compared with the available earlier research work. Moreover, the proposed analytical solutions for mean concentration...     

Primary production, sedimentation and resuspension in large shallow Lake Võrtsjärv

: Phytoplankton primary production measurements and sediment trapping in the large (270 km²) shallow (mean depth 2.8 m) Lake Võrtsjärv were performed during ice-free periods in 1995-1996. Sedimentation rate varied from 26 to 700 g DWm^-2d^-1 (DW=dry weight), with a mean value of 170 g DWm^-2d^-1. Under the influence of prevailing westerly and south-westerly winds, the sedimentation rate was higher in the northern part, and lower in the western and southern parts of the lake. An increasing trend towards autumn could be followed in both years. The mean sedimentation rates in the dry year 1996 with a low lake water level exceeded those of the “normal” 1995 by a factor of more than two. New sedimentation formed 10-15 % of the downward sediment flux in 1995 and 4-6 % in 1996, while the major part of entrapped matter originated from resuspended bottom sediments. The dynamics of gross sedimentation showed no relation to the primary production but correlated significantly with the concentration of suspended solids, with the average wind speed and with the mean depth of the lake during trap exposition.¶The composition of entrapped matter did not show seasonal variation but differed between the sampling stations. The amount of particulate organic matter (POM) per DW varied from 11 % at places where the bottom sediment consisted of moraine or sand to 28 % at places with muddy bottom. N:POM was rather stable (45-61 mgg^-1, Cvar = 6 %). The variability of P:POM (3.5-7.1, Cvar = 20 %) exceeded that of P:DW (0.75-1.31 mgg^-1, Cvar = 10 %) showing the essential role of mineral-bound P in the settling material. In these conditions, the N:P ratio was determined by the POM content of settling matter. POM:DW in settling material was generally higher than in the 0-2 cm layer of bottom sediments.     

Simulation of acid water movement in canals

An attempt to tackle the problem of the propagation of acid water in canals is described, and a mathematical model to simulate the acid water movement is developed, in which the jurbanite equilibrium is found to prevail. The processes of settling owing to sedimentation, precipitation and redissolution have been considered in the modelling. Data available from Tan Thanh, in the Plain of Reeds of the Mekong Delta in Viet Nam, are used as a case study.     

A computational study of the role of particle size standard deviation on the collision frequency in differential settling

The results of a simple computational model for differential settling are presented illustrating the significant role that particle size distribution plays in collision frequency and sedimentation rate of particles in a quiescent environment. The model tracks a large number of particles(order 10~5) with log-normally distributed diameters,as they settle at their Stokes settling velocities.Particle collisions are detected and result in larger particles that fall more rapidly.A number of simplifying assumptions are made in the model in order to avoid empirical correlations for phenomena such as collision efficiency and particle shape.These simplifying assumptions were needed to isolate and quantify the role of the particle size distribution.Simulated concentration profiles indicate that,even in the absence of collisions, the standard deviation(σ_D) of the particle size strongly influences the bulk mass settling rate as,for largerσ_D, more mass is concentrated in larger,faster falling particles.The collision frequency is also a strong function ofσ_D. For a given mass concentration the collision frequency first increases linearly with increasingσ_D as greater variation in particle size leads to greater variation in particle velocity,and shorter times for particles to catch each other.For largerσ_D more mass is concentrated in larger particles,so,for a given mass concentration,there are fewer particles per unit volume,increasing the mean distance between the particles and reducing the collision frequency.The implications of these results for sedimentation measurement using optical attenuation techniques are discussed.     

Near-bottom stratified currents and sediment transport in reservoirs and lakes

Results of field and theoretical studies of suspension transport by density currents are presented. The suspension transport is described by a mathematical model taking into account turbulent roiling and involvement, sedimentation, and bed erosion, variations in the vertical component of mean velocity, the relationship between the particles’ settling velocity and the distribution of their concentrations between the near-bottom and the overlaying water, on the one hand, and flow stability and velocity, on the other hand. The theoretical distributions of suspension concentrations are compared with those measured in 20 flows in nine reservoirs and lakes.     

Floodplain sedimentation: Quantities,patterns and processes

This paper presents the result of measurements of floodplain sedimentation using sediment traps. The study was carried out on two embanked floodplains along the Rivers Rhine and Meuse in The Netherlands during a 3 day flood in January 1993. Raster maps of sediment accumulation were made by interpolating the measurements from the traps using block kriging. The sediment maps show clear patterns in sediment accumulation, together with the estimated interpolation errors. Average sediment accumulation ranges between 0·57 and 1·0 kg m^?2. High sediment accumulation is found on the levees (4 kg m^?2 or more) and on low lying areas (1·6 kg m^?2); sediment accumulation decreases with distance from the main channel. The sedimentation patterns are related to floodplain topography and sediment transporting mechanisms. Sediment transport by turbulent diffusion as well as by convection can be recognized. Also, flood duration and the process of sediment settling out in ponding water in closed depressions are important. The applied method allows comparison of the results with raster-based sedimentation models.     

Macroflocs, fine-grained sediment transports, and their longitudinal variations in the Ems Estuary

Field measurements have been carried out to obtain more quantitative knowledge on the longitudinal distribution of the fine-grained sediment dynamics in the Ems Estuary. Both the short-term (time scale < tidal period) and the long-term (tidally averaged) fine-grained sediment transports have been investigated. It is shown that the short-term erosion/sedimentation cycles are most characteristic and are the building blocks for the ultimate long-term transports. Herein, the macroflocs play a key role. The macroflocs had sizes in the range of 200 to 700?μm, sometimes more than 1?mm, and survived high current velocities. The settling velocities were in the range of 0.5 to 8?mm/s. Turbulence intensities and suspended sediment concentration are of utmost importance for the settling properties of the sediment, but the “flocculation ability??of the suspended sediment is shown to be of equal importance. The suspended sediment concentration is only important at low levels of turbulence. At high levels of turbulence, the limiting properties of turbulence dominate. It is demonstrated that the surface properties of the suspended sediment particles are of prime importance for the flocculation ability of the water/sediment mixture, as do the sizes of the resuspended microflocs. Special attention is given to the longitudinal distribution of the sizes and settling properties of the macroflocs as well as of the sediment transports. The flocculation ability was shown to vary almost one order of magnitude along the estuary. These higher flocculation abilities in the direction of higher salinities are responsible for the increase of the sizes of the macroflocs in the seaward direction. Therefore, notwithstanding the low suspended sediment concentrations at the seaward boundary of the Ems Estuary, large macroflocs and corresponding high settling velocities were observed in this area. It explains that, in the Ems Estuary, no distinct effect was determined of the suspended sediment concentration on the settling properties of the suspended macroflocs.     

Soil erosion due to rainfall impact with no inflow: a numerical solution with spatial and temporal effects of sediment settling velocity characteristics

Dynamic changes take place in the nature of sediment eroded from bare soil at low slopes by rainfall impact when there is no inflow of water at the top of the eroding slope. This relates initially to fine soil sediment not settling back onto the soil after the rainfall impact. Coupled partial differential equations describing such dynamic changes have been solved numerically for a bed of soil, bounded at its upper end, and subject to a constant rainfall rate. This solution allows prediction of the change with time and downslope distance in the concentration and settling velocity (or size) characteristics of eroding sediment, allowing critical evaluation of the assumption of space-independent sediment characteristics made in prior approximate analytical solutions of the equations involved. Following the determination of as yet unpredictable soil-related parameters in the equations, the solution was tested by comparison with experimented data on two soils of contrasting structural stability, namely a vertosol [The Australian Soil Classification (1996)] and a aridisol. Investigations included the determination of a minimum number of sediment size classes required to adequately describe the settling velocity characteristics, based on the shape of the underlying basic settling velocity characteristic, which is used to predict the dynamics of sediment deposition. The effect on the solution of observed structural breakdown in soil aggregation due to rainfall impact was investigated, leading to more accurate predictions of the settling velocity characteristics of eroded sediment. Other sources of discrepancy between theory and observation remain to be determined.     

Phosphorus transport to the bottom of Lake Constance

Despite decreasing nutrient loading of Lake Constance over the past few years, annual sedimentation rates of dry matter remained nearly constant at a level of about 1000 gm^–2y^–1. The phosphorus content in settling material varied between 0.13 and 0.22% of dry weight. Phosphorus was transported to the lake bottom mainly by POM and by coprecipitation with authigenically formed calcite (estimated from results of laboratory studies). Adsorption to sinking particles of allochthonous origin was of minor importance. The effect of a self-cleaning mechanism is discussed with regard to continuously declining contents of dissolved phosphorus in Lake Constance since 1981, due to external sanitation measures in the drainage area.     

Assessment of erosion and settling properties of fine sediments stored in cobble bed rivers: the Arc and Isère alpine rivers before and after reservoir flushing

Cohesive sediment dynamics in mountainous rivers is poorly understood even though these rivers are the main providers of fine particles to the oceans. Complex interactions exist between the coarse matrix of cobble bed rivers and fine sediments. Given that fine sediment load in such environments can be very high due to intense natural rainfall or snowmelt events and to man‐induced reservoir or dam flushing, a better understanding of the deposition and sedimentation processes is needed in order to reduce ecohydrological downstream impacts. We tested a field‐based approach on the Arc and Isère alpine rivers combining measurements of erosion and settling properties of river bed deposits before and after a dam flushing, with the U‐GEMS (Gust Erosion Microcosm System) and SCAF (System Characterizing Aggregates and Flocs), respectively. These measurements highlight that critical shears, rates of erosion, settling velocities and propensity of particles to flocculate are highly variable in time and space. This is reflective of the heterogeneity of the hydrodynamic conditions during particle settling, local bed roughness, and nature and size of particles. Generally the deposits were found to be stable relative to what is measured in lowland rivers. It was, however, not possible to make a conclusive assessment of the extent to which the dynamics of deposits after reservoir flushing were different from those settled after natural events. The absence of any relationships between erosion and deposition variables, making it impossible to predict one from another, underlined the need to measure all of them to have a full assessment of the fine sediment dynamics and to obtain representative input variables for numerical models. While the SCAF was found to be effective, an alternative to the U‐GEMS device will have to be found for the erodibility assessment in cobble bed rivers, in order to make more rapid measurements at higher shears. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Screening of polymers on selected Hawaii soils for erosion reduction and particle settling

In recent years, high‐molecular‐weight anionic polyacrylamides (PAMs) have been tested on a variety of soils, primarily in temperate climates. However, little information is available regarding the effectiveness of PAM for preventing soil loss through runoff in tropical settings. Screening tests were performed using three negatively charged PAMs and one positively charged PAM on five Hawaii soils (two Oxisols, one Vertisol, and two Aridisols) to determine erosion loss, sediment settling, and aggregate stability. A laboratory‐scale rainfall simulator was used to apply erosive rainfall at intensities from 5 to 8·5 cm h^?1 at various PAM doses applied in both dry and solution forms. Soil detachment due to splash and runoff, as well as the runoff and percolate water volumes, were measured for initial and successive storms. The impact of PAM on particle settling and aggregate stability was also evaluated for selected soil‐treatment combinations. Among the PAMs, Superfloc A‐836 was most effective, and significantly reduced runoff and splash sediment loss for the Wahiawa Oxisol and Pakini Andisol at rates varying between 10 and 50 kg ha^?1. Reduced runoff and splash sediment loss were also noted for PAM Aerotil‐D when applied in solution form to the Wahiawa Oxisol. Significant reductions in soil loss were not noted for either the Lualualei Vertisol or the Holomua Oxisol. It is believed that the high montmorillonite content of the Lualualei Vertisol and the low cation‐exchange capacity of the Holomua Oxisol diminished the effectiveness of the various PAMs tested. The polymers were also found to enhance sediment settling of all soils and helped improve their aggregate stability. This screening study shows the potential use of PAM for tropical soils for applications such as infiltration enhancement, runoff reduction, and enhanced sedimentation of detention ponds. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pelagic food web interactions and hypolimnetic oxygen depletion: Results from experimental enclosures and lakes

Large lakes enclosures were used to examine the influence of nutrient (P, N) enrichment and planktivorous fish (1 + yellow perch) predation on hypolimnetic oxygen depletion. Results were compared to similar data for lakes with high (Lake St. George) and low (Haynes Lake) abundances of planktivorous fish. In both the unfertilized and fertilized enclosures, fish predation on large cladocerans increased the biomasses of pico- and nanoplankton (0.2–20 µm), phytoplankton (chlorophyll a) and total phosphorus (TP), reduced sedimentation, water clarity, and hypolimnetic oxygen concentrations (AHO). Fertilized enclosures without fish had highest TP and sedimentation rates, but the AHO were low. The high planktivore lake had higher pico- and nanoplankton, higher chlorophyll a, reduced water clarity, and lower AHO than the low planktivore lake. Areal hypolimnetic oxygen depletion (AHOD) rates were strongly related with Secchi depth and plankton size-distribution (r ² = 0.77, and 0.79, respectively), but not as strongly with TP, chlorophyll a, and sedimentation rates (r ² = 0.25, 0.53, and 0.02, respectively). Such observations are useful in forming a generalized hypothesis that lakes with low planktivory and high water clarity have lower oxygen depletion because 1) plankton that are settling are larger and spend less time in the hypolimnetic water column before reaching the sediment, and therefore undergo less decomposition, and 2) the euphotic depth extends into the hypolimnion and production of oxygen can take place.