Sediment critical shear stress and geotechnical properties along the modern Yellow River Delta, China

Abstract

ABSTRACTA geological engineering study was undertaken to determine the spatial distribution of sediment critical shear stress in the modern Yellow River Delta and to determine the influence of sediment erodibility on sediment erosion and microtopography formation. The critical shear stress was tested using a cohesive sediment meter for sediments along lines running perpendicular to the coast in different sedimentary lobes of the delta, where the geotechnical properties of sediments were also determined. The results demonstrate that significant differences in critical shear stress exist among high, middle, and low tidal flats, which are influenced by biodisturbation in the different sedimentary lobes. Regional characteristics of the modern Yellow River Delta show that critical shear stress levels are the lowest in the northern area (0.11–0.4 Pa), are the highest in the eastern area (2.8–4.55 Pa), and are significantly heterogeneous in the northeastern area. The critical shear stress is found to be more nonuniform and levels of antierosion strength are relatively lower than values found for other estuarine deltas around the world.