Role of suspended-sediment particle size in modifying velocity profiles in open channel flows

Zhixian Cao, Shinji Egashira, Paul A. Carling

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    40 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Previous experimental and analytical studies have revealed that suspended particles can attenuate or enhance turbulence, depending on the particle size in relation to turbulence scales. Incorporating this mechanism, an empirical turbulent eddy viscosity-based closure model is proposed for the mean velocity structure of suspended sediment-laden flow in open channels. The model integrates the sediment particle Stokes number, the ratio of particle-size-to-turbulence microscale, the ratio of particle settling velocity to bed shear velocity, and local sediment concentration. Its good performance is demonstrated in comparison with available laboratory observations. It is characterized that single-phase turbulence closure models can be adapted for sediment-laden flows by implementing sediment particle size effects.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)ESG21-ESG215
    JournalWater Resources Research
    Volume39
    Issue number2
    Publication statusPublished - Feb 2003

    Keywords

    • Fluvial hydraulics
    • Particle size
    • Sediment transport
    • Turbulence modulation
    • Two-phase flow
    • Velocity profile

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