Hydrostatic settling velocity of sediments

Abstract

The settling of sediments is an accelerative process in which the concentration of the main sediments zone will heavily influence settling velocity, but the explicit relationship between the concentration and settling velocity has not been reported in literature. Here a theoretical function was built for the time dependent concentration and time dependent settling velocity of sediments; then the entire settling process reflecting concentration was shown on the basis of sediments instant-settlement theory and mathematical method. Agreement of computed results and experimental data was found. Several governing parameters, including particle size, particle density, initial suspended sediments concentration and suspension height, were discussed with a series of calculated velocity curves. The research indicated that (1) the presented concentration-velocity time relationship is rational, (2) settling process of the sediments group with variation of concentration consists of acceleration stage, uniform motion stage and deceleration stage, and (3) particle size, particle density and initial suspended sediments concentration have more influence on the settling velocity than the suspension height and water temperature.