Effects of turbulence on the transport of individual particles as bedload in a gravel‐bed river

Abstract

AbstractThis study investigates the association between mean and turbulent flow variables and the movement of individual particles in a gravel‐bed river. The experimental design implemented in the Eaton‐North River (Québec, Canada) is based on the simultaneous observations at a high temporal resolution of both particle movements as bedload using an underwater video camera and of the streamwise and vertical flow velocity components using a vertical array of three electromagnetic current meters (ECMs). The frequency and distance of displacement of particles larger than 20 mm that were sliding or rolling on the bed were measured from a 10 minutes long film. Mean and turbulent flow properties obtained for periods without sediment transport are compared to those when particles were sliding and rolling. When particles are sliding, weak differences are present for the mean streamwise velocity and normal vertical stresses. Instantaneous Reynolds shear stresses are significantly lower for sliding events which was not expected but could be explained by the important dominance of Quadrant 3 events (inward interactions). When particles are rolling, only the vertical normal stresses show a weak difference from those observed in the absence of transport but they tend to occur when Quadrant 2 (ejections) dominate the flow field. For both sliding and rolling particles, vertical and/or streamwise fluid accelerations show high magnitude values when compared to periods without transport. For sliding particles, streamwise acceleration is mostly negative and combines most of the time with a positive vertical acceleration. For rolling particles, streamwise and vertical acceleration are predominantly of opposite sign. These results suggest that fluid acceleration or deceleration in the streamwise and vertical directions is affecting the pressure field around particles. In this study, fluid acceleration seems to play a more important role than Reynolds shear stress or normal stresses for bedload movements. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.