Bedload Transport Rates Research Articles

Effect of Increasing Antecedent Flows on Equilibrium Bed-Load Transport Rates in a Laboratory Channel with a Sand and Gravel Bed Channel

Experiments were conducted in a laboratory flume in which gravel and total bed-load rates were measured continuously using independent methods that allowed evaluation of the effect of four antecedent flow conditions on the transport of bed load under standard flow. It was found that both mean total bed-load rate and gravel transport rates are related to the magnitude of antecedent flow. The changes in mean bed-load rates were attributed to changes in the stability of the coarsest fractions of the bed material, caused by the previous high-flow event. This work indicates that long-term mean bed-load transport rates for a sand and gravel bed are not just a function of grain size and flow rate but also vary with the magnitude of antecedent flow.

Comparisons of Numerical Models on Formation of Sediment Deposition Induced by Tsunami Run-Up

Tsunami sediments provide direct evidence of tsunami arrival histories for tsunami risk assessments. Therefore, it is important to understand the formation process of tsunami sediment for tsunami risk assessment. Numerical simulations can be used to better understand the formation process. However, as the formation of tsunami sediments is affected by various conditions, such as the tsunami hydraulic conditions, topographic conditions, and sediment conditions, many problems remain in such simulations when attempting to accurately reproduce the tsunami sediment formation process. To solve these problems, various numerical models and methods have been proposed, but there have been few comparative studies among such models. In this study, inter-model comparisons of tsunami sediment transport models were performed to improve the reproducibility of tsunami sediment features in models. To verify the reproducibility of the simulations, the simulation results were compared with the results of sediment transport hydraulic experiments using a tsunami run-up to land. Two types of experiments were conducted: a sloping plane with and without coverage by silica sand (fixed and movable beds, respectively). The simulation results confirm that there are conditions and parameters affecting not only the amount of sediment transport, but also the distribution. In particular, the treatment of the sediment coverage ratio in a calculation grid, roughness coefficient, and bedload transport rate formula on the fixed bed within the sediment transport model are considered important.

Depositional patterns of slowly plugging neck cutoffs from core analysis and estimates of bedload transport, White River, Arkansas

AbstractMeander cutoffs and oxbow lakes are very common features of fluvial landscapes that add complexity and diversity to floodplain alluvial architecture and riverine habitats. Following initial cutoff, sediment accumulates within the entrance and exit of the original bend forming plugs that eventually disconnect the abandoned bend from the main channel. While studies have examined the sedimentology of these plugs once they have fully disconnected from the abandoned bend, fewer studies have detailed the sedimentological processes occurring during the early stages following cutoff initiation. Furthermore, recent studies have highlighted the importance that planform geometry plays in the evolution of neck cutoffs. This study examines the spatial depositional patterns of two neck cutoffs on the White River in central Arkansas, USA, that remain hydrologically connected to the main channel, providing a unique opportunity to research sedimentological processes before disconnection of the abandoned bend. Sediment cores were collected in key locations of each cutoff, including the entrance and exit of the abandoned bends, abandoned bend apices, and newly developed cutoff bars in the downstream channel. The cores were logged and interpreted and grain‐size analyses were performed. In addition to sediment cores, repeat high‐resolution multibeam echo sounding surveys were conducted roughly four hours apart to estimate bedload transport rates and patterns of bedload routing through each cutoff. Results from this research are different from previous studies. Sediment core results show a pattern of deposition typically associated with lower diversion angle chute cutoffs instead of higher diversion angle neck cutoffs. Previous research has indicated that plugging of abandoned bends drives disconnection from the active channel; however, this research shows that disconnection is more associated with the prevention of sediment from being delivered to the abandoned bends due to flow being pulled away from the abandoned bends and the evolving channel morphology.

Generalized Bed-Load Function Based on Empirical Data

There exist many bed-load functions in the literature to calculate bed-load transport rates, but none of them fit data from low to high shear stress conditions. This research presents a generalized bed-load function based on empirical data. Specifically, the classic power law in high shear stress conditions is extended to low shear stress conditions by applying a complimentary error function (or logistic function) and using Coles’ mathematical idea for the wake law in turbulent boundary layer velocity distribution. The resulting generalized bed-load function agrees well with the classic data sets; it reduces to Huang’s 5/3 power law in the very low and the high shear stress conditions, and it is numerically close to Paintal’s 16th power law in the transitional regime. It is found that the maximum turbulence-induced lift force and the minimum critical shear stress in the Shields diagram correspond to the inflection point (in terms of logarithmic scale) in the Einstein bed-load diagram, resulting in the most efficient bed-load transport rate. After that, this paper discusses the effects of turbulence-induced lift force, critical shear stress, viscosity, nonlinearity, and uncertainty on bed-load transport. Finally, an example with uncertainty analysis is illustrated for applications.

On How Episodic Sediment Supply Influences the Evolution of Channel Morphology, Bedload Transport and Channel Stability in an Experimental Step‐Pool Channel

AbstractWe present results from flume experiments in which an 8% steep channel with longitudinal width variations and step‐pool morphology was subjected to sediment feed pulses of different magnitude and frequency under constant water discharge. The channel response to these pulses included (a) large bedload transport rates, (b) bed aggradation, (c) fining of the bed surface, and (d) continuous formation and collapse of steps. In between pulses, the bed surface coarsened, and bedload transport rates dropped by several orders of magnitude. Steps continuously formed and collapsed during and shortly after the pulses, but their stability increased when the sediment feed was turned off. High pulse magnitude enhanced step formation, while low pulse frequency (i.e., long interpulse period) enhanced step stability. We back‐calculated the threshold for motion based on measured bedload transport rates and bed shear stress. Changes in the threshold for motion were much larger than changes in bed surface slope. By accounting for energy dissipation through the effective slope based on flow resistance partitioning, a better prediction was obtained. The threshold for motion decreased following sediment pulses then increased immediately after and fluctuated until the next sediment pulse. Our results indicate that longitudinal width variations and episodic sediment supply are primary controls on the evolution of step‐pool channels. Sediment feed magnitude affects mostly morphological changes, while sediment feed frequency controls channel stability.

Bed Load Transport Estimations in Goodwin Creek Using Neural Network Methods

Equations used for calculating bed load transport rates generally assume steady flow conditions. This assumes that the relationship of bed load transport as a function of water discharge, or some other flow parameter such as flow depth or boundary shear stress, is single-valued. One of the reasons for adopting such an approach is that almost all the pertinent laboratory data on bed load transport have been obtained from experiments performed under steady flow conditions. Similarly, the scarcity of accurate bed load field data obtained during the passage of floods is attributed to the difficulties, which at times can become life threatening, encountered under such conditions. Provision of data under difficult conditions may lead to inability to provide data in some cases and interruption in data continuity. It is extremely difficult to make predictions using classical statistical science in discontinuous or lack of data situations. Artificial neural networks (ANN) is a usefull tool to use in prediction inefficient or data conditions. In this study two Artificial Neural Network (ANN) methods, radial basis functions and generalized regression neural network are employed to estimate the bed load data. It was seen that the ANN estimations are more satisfactory compared to those of the conventional statistical methods results. It was shown that ANN estimations for gravel bed load data are more successful than the sand load data.

The January 2014 Flashflood in the Ambato River (Catamarca, Argentina)- A Case Study of Megaboulders Fluvial Transport

Megaboulders mantle the steep channels of mountainous rivers, and moderate incision rates by increasing channel roughness. Direct measurement of the transport of boulders in natural rivers is difficult, therefore there are few field studies on the subject. The transportation of megaboulders downslope in catastrophic floods in urban environments releases a destructive power. This study analyses the Ambato river flood that occurred in Argentina in January 2014 with an assumed recurrence interval of 1:100 years. The flood was caused by concentrated rainfall in the upper basin, at an elevation of 4000 m.
 The Ambato river forms a boulder alluvial fan drained by episodic floods. The 2014 flood caused casualties and economic losses in the village of El Rodeo in the province of Catamarca. Several houses and a bridge were destroyed and vehicles were swept away. All bedload sizes- including megaboulders with 2000 mm b-axis- were transported during the flood. The empirical equation for stream power value and the unit bedload transport rate of megaboulders were validated.
 An assessment of boulder mobility is necessary to mitigate flow hazards in mountainous urban areas. The effects of climate change in semi-arid environments would be greater if they involved increased precipitation or more extreme rainstorms due to events such as El Niṅo.

The effect of asymmetric dune roughness on tidal asymmetry in the Weser estuary

AbstractThe bed of estuaries is often characterized by ripples and dunes of varying size. Whereas smaller bedforms adapt their morphological shape to the oscillating tidal currents, large compound dunes (here: asymmetric tidal dunes) remain stable for periods longer than a tidal cycle. Bedforms constitute a form roughness, that is, hydraulic flow resistance, which has a large‐scale effect on tidal asymmetry and, hence, on hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and morphodynamics of estuaries and coastal seas. Flow separation behind the dune crest and recirculation on the steep downstream side result in turbulence and energy loss. Since the energy dissipation can be related to the dune lee slope angle, asymmetric dune shapes induce variable flow resistance during ebb and flood phases. Here, a noncalibrated numerical model has been applied to analyze the large‐scale effect of symmetric and asymmetric dune shapes on estuarine tidal asymmetry evaluated by residual bed load sediment transport at the Weser estuary, Germany. Scenario simulations were performed with parameterized bed roughness of symmetric and asymmetric dune shapes and without dune roughness. The spatiotemporal interaction of distinct dune shapes with the main drivers of estuarine sediment and morphodynamics, that is, river discharge and tidal energy, is shown to be complex but substantial. The contrasting effects of flood‐ and ebb‐oriented asymmetric dunes on residual bed load transport rates and directions are estimated to be of a similar importance as the controls of seasonal changes of discharge on these net sediment fluxes at the Lower Weser estuary. This corroborates the need to consider dune‐induced directional bed roughness in numerical models of estuarine and tidal environments.

Fifty‐eight years and counting of watershed science at the Caspar Creek Experimental Watersheds in northern California

AbstractThe Caspar Creek Experimental Watersheds are the site of a long‐term paired watershed study in the northern Coast Ranges of California. The watersheds are predominately forested with coast redwood and Douglas‐fir. Old‐growth forest was logged between 1860 and 1904. Two harvesting experiments have been completed since then and a third experiment is currently underway. Caspar Creek data are split into three phases corresponding to three experiments: Phase 1 (1962–1985) reports on a selection harvest (1971–1973) and initial recovery in the South Fork watershed; Phase 2 (1985–2017) includes clearcut harvesting of ~50% of the North Fork watershed (1985–1992) and recovery; and Phase 3 (2017 onward) corresponds to a second selection harvest in the South Fork watershed with a range of subwatershed harvest intensities (2017–2019) and recovery. All three experiments included harvest‐related road‐building and relied primarily on measurements of streamflow and sediment delivery from both treated and reference watersheds. Major findings include modest increases in post‐harvest peak flows and cumulative flow volumes, post‐harvest low flows that initially increased and then decreased 12 to 15 years after harvesting, and the consequences of different yarding techniques and road design on sediment yields. Some of the data for Phase 1 and Phase 2 are available in a USDA Forest Service online archive. The archived data include precipitation, streamflow, suspended sediment concentrations, turbidity, accumulated weir pond sediment volumes, bedload transport rates, water stable isotope data, and geospatial data. Archiving activities are ongoing. Phase 3 data are currently being collected and will be archived after a post‐harvest monitoring period.

Relevance of acoustic methods to quantify bedload transport and bedform dynamics in a large sandy-gravel-bed river

Abstract. Despite the inherent difficulties in quantifying its value, bedload transport is essential for understanding fluvial systems. In this study, we assessed different indirect bedload measurement techniques with a reference direct bedload measurement in a reach of a large sandy-gravel-bed river. An acoustic Doppler current profiler (aDcp), the dune tracking method (DTM) and hydrophone measurement techniques were used to determine bedload transport rates by using calibration with the reference method or by using empirical formulas. This study is the first work which attempted to use a hydrophone to quantify bedload rates in a large sandy-gravel-bed river. Results show that the hydrophone is the most efficient and accurate method for determining bedload fluxes in the Loire River. Although further work is needed to identify the parameters controlling self-generated sediment noise, the calibration procedure adopted in this study allows a satisfactory estimation of bedload transport rates. Moreover, aDcp and hydrophone measurement techniques are accurate enough to quantify bedload variations associated with dune migration.

The variability of antidune morphodynamics on steep slopes

AbstractSteep streams on rough beds are generally characterised by supercritical flow conditions under which antidunes can develop and migrate over time. In this paper, we present flume experiments that we conducted to investigate the variability of antidune geometry and migration celerity, a variability observed even under steady‐state conditions. Quantifying this variability is important for river morphodynamics, hydraulics and paleohydraulics. We imposed moderate to intense bedload transport rates at the flume inlet to assess their effects on antidune morphodynamics for near‐constant values of the mean bed slope. The bed elevation profile was monitored for each experiment with high spatial and temporal resolution. Upstream migrating antidunes were observed along most of the flume length. Considering single values for wavelength and celerity was not sufficient to describe the antidune behaviour in these experiments. By using spectral analysis, we identified the variability ranges of bedform shape and celerity. Interestingly, migration celerity increased with increasing antidune wavelength; the opposite trend was reported for dunes in other studies. Antidunes were more uniform and migrated faster for higher sediment feeding rates. Scaling the spectra made it possible to find a general dimensionless relationship between antidune wavelength and celerity. This framework provides a novel method for estimating the mean bedload transport rate in the presence of upstream migrating antidunes.

The estimation of bedload in poorly-gauged mountain rivers

Bedload transport is one major driver of gravel-bed river morphodynamics, and its quantification is capital for many environmental issues and river engineering applications, as well as for landscape evolution studies. To this point, bedload transport rates and volumes have been classically computed by means of sediment transport formulae. The most used bedload transport equations compute the bulk bedload mass based on section-averaged hydraulic parameters. However, due to the non-linear behavior of sediment transport, bedload formulae are sensitive to the input parameters. Then, some doubts arise when applying bedload equations on poorly gauged river reaches, i.e. rivers where there are no hydrological records and rating curves. In this paper, we assess the application of bedload equations in the case of poorly gauged river reaches, and we test a workflow to follow in such situations. This workflow consists of three steps: (i) Reconstructing the flow duration curve, based on gauging records from neighboring river basins; (ii) Solving the hydraulic geometry relations of the study-case river-reach, based on a flow friction equation; and finally, (iii) Computing bedload with a sediment transport equation. We tested this approach against the bedload information available in the literature for Idaho streams and we found that it could potentially approximate annual bedload volumes in ungauged reaches under certain conditions. To illustrate the potential of this workflow, we also computed bedload volumes for two ungauged river reaches from the Cantabrian mountains (NW Spain).

Accuracy of bed-load transport models in eddy-resolving simulations

This work investigates the accuracy of commonly used bed-load transport models when applied in combination with high-resolution Navier-Stokes solvers. Empirical bed-load models predict the transport rate of sediments based on the average bottom shear-stress, while eddy-resolving approaches allow for a space- and time-dependent description of the bottom shear-stress distribution. We discuss the effect that a fine-graining of the stress distribution provided by the flow solver has on the transport model prediction, and we examine the space and time scales at which the averaged values of the transport rate, obtained using the local stress distribution, converge to the transport rate predicted using the average stress. To this aim, we performed Direct Numerical Simulation of a channel flow and used the resulting database to mimic Wall-Resolved and Wall-Modelled Large-Eddy Simulations. We compared the prediction of several bed-load transport models to experimental measurements in order to identify and highlight the limitations that stem from the coupling of these models with eddy-resolving techniques. We find that for small values of the Shields parameter (ratio of viscous and gravitational forces) the fine spatial and temporal resolution of wall-resolved simulations can yield overestimation of the bed-load transport rate; whereas more coarse-grained methods, such as wall-modelled Large Eddy Simulation, result in improved predictions. We also show that a short-time averaging of the force exerted by the fluid on the sediments, which we tested in three different configurations (channel flow with smooth and rough walls and flow over an idealized two-dimensional river dune), improves the accuracy of the bed-load transport predictions, thus providing indications about the flow scales that control the transport process.

Barred beach profile equilibrium investigated with a process-based numerical model

Investigating the equilibrium profile of a sandy beach is important to evaluate the beach response to natural forces. Empirical or semi-empirical relationships among beach states, wave climates and sediments properties have been established in various studies. In this study, detailed physical insights of hydrodynamics and sediment transport patterns on a quasi-equilibrium beach profile are provided using a process-based model. Model results show that during the beach profile transition to equilibrium, both the magnitude and the cross-shore gradient of sediment transport rate decrease. The total net sediment transport in surfzone is mainly affected by the balance/imbalance between offshore-directed current-related suspended sediment transport and onshore-directed bedload transport, both of which showing a decreasing tendency during the transition to equilibrium. The former is due to the decreasing undertow velocity and sediment concentration, and the latter is due to the decrease of peak bedload transport rate near the intra-wave crest phase. The wave-related suspended sediment transport is relatively small compared to the other two transport components. Based on the entropy concept, a dimensionless parameter representing the spatial uniformity of wave energy dissipation rate is proposed as an indicator of the equilibrium degree of a beach profile. Results suggest that a quantitative relationship can be established between this parameter and the overall characteristics of sediment transport on a beach profile.

Simulation-based Evaluation of Hydrographic Data Analysis for Dune Tracking on the River Rhine

Knowledge of the static and morphodynamic components of the river bed is important for the maintenance of waterways. Under the action of a current, parts of the river bed sediments can move in the form of dunes. Recordings of the river bed by multibeam echosounding are used as input data within a morphological analysis in order to compute the bedload transport rate using detected dune shape and migration. Before the morphological analysis, a suitable processing of the measurement data is essential to minimize inherent uncertainties. This paper presents a simulation-based evaluation of suitable data processing concepts for vertical sections of bed forms based on a case study at the river Rhine. For the presented spatial approaches, suitable parameter sets are found, which allow the reproduction of nominal dune parameters in the range of a few centimetres. However, if parameter sets are chosen inadequately, the subsequently derived dune parameters can deviate by several decimetres from the simulated truth. A simulation-based workflow is presented, to find the optimal hydrographic data processing strategy for a given dune geometry.

Pulse Coherent Doppler Profiler Measurement of Bedload Transport

AbstractPrior studies demonstrate that bottom velocity measurements from Doppler sonar systems are proportional to bedload transport rates. These observations suggest that acoustically based systems offer a capability for rapid sampling of bedload transport processes. Before these measurements can be fully utilized, validation and understanding of the sampling mechanism are essential. We explore the measurement mechanism through a series of laboratory trials with a field instrument, the multi‐frequency coherent Doppler profiler (MFDop). The MFDop system is a multi‐frequency (1.2–2.2 MHz), bistatic Doppler sonar that provides three‐component ensemble‐averaged velocity profiles over a ∼30 cm depth interval with up to 1 mm resolution at a rate of 50 profiles/sec. Tests of the MFDop system were carried out in the main flume in field‐scale conditions at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) using 1 ms−1 mean flows over a mobile bed of sand with median grain size d50 = 0.4 mm. We find agreement between MFDop transport measurements and measurements based on bedform migration rates, and sediment traps built into the SAFL flume. Predictions using the Meyer‐Peter and Müller (1948) empirical equation closely match our observations while in contrast, predictions using the Nielsen (1992) equation are a factor of two higher.

Mechanism of collision model for bedload transport

The current study introduces a new particle–particle collision model as well as a classical particle–wall collision model to simulate the process of bedload transport. Large eddy simulation and two-way coupling Lagrangian point–particle models also are applied. Flow conditions for all simulations are done based on previous experiments and four comparison cases are studied. The bedload function result obtained using this model agrees with the previous studies, which proves that the model is reasonable and effective in dealing with bedload transport in turbulent flow. Otherwise, failure to consider the particle–particle collision, Basset force, or Saffman lift force in the model lead to underestimating the bedload transport rate.

Direct, continuous measurements of ultra-high sediment fluxes in a sandy gravel-bed ephemeral river

A dearth of field measurements exists from sandy gravel-bed rivers. Laboratory experiments suggest that sediment mixtures with a large sand component are particularly efficient at transporting bedload downstream. To evaluate transport processes in these environments, we constructed a sediment monitoring research facility with the ability to continuously monitor sediment fluxes. The Arroyo de los Pinos is a gravel-bed ephemeral channel with a large (>30%) sand component in New Mexico, USA. This field station incorporates direct measurements of bedload flux using Reid-type slot samplers with high quality measurements of suspended sediment, water depth, water velocity, and grain size. Measurements are collected at a stable cross section constructed for long-term, consistent monitoring.Instantaneous bedload flux is high compared to global averages, as high as 12 kg s−1 m−1. Suspended sediment is also high, peaking at 100,000 mg L−1, with evidence of clockwise hysteresis. The Pinos nondimensional bedload flux rates are similar to those in other ephemeral channels, but the high sand content allows equal mobility at relatively shallow water depths and high rates of bedload transport during hydrograph recession. Bedload flux responded hysteretically, higher at equal shear stresses during stage rise. This is likely caused by an inadequate use of the depth-slope product for calculation of bed shear, steeper friction slopes during the rising limb, or both.These first monitored sediment transporting flash flood events reveal a channel that is very active during short periods of time. On average, the Arroyo de los Pinos flows 12–24 h during 3–5 events every year. However, in these brief periods, the channel is hyper-efficient at transporting bedload and suspended sediment at rates that are orders of magnitude higher than perennial counterparts.

Validation of an Experimental Procedure to Determine Bedload Transport Rates in Steep Channels with Coarse Sediment

The current study presents an experimental procedure used to determine bedload sediment transport rates in channels with high gradients and coarse sediment. With the aim to validate the procedure for further investigations, laboratory experiments were performed to calculate bedload transport rates. The experiments were performed in a laboratory tilting flume with slopes ranging from 3% to 5%. The sediment particles were uniform in shape (spheres). The experiments were divided into four cases based on sediment size. Three cases of uniform sizes of 10 mm, 15 mm and 25 mm and a case with a grain size distribution formed with the uniform particle sizes were considered. From the experimental results a mathematical bedload transport model was obtained through multiple linear regression. The experimental model was compared with equations presented in the literature obtained for gravel bed rivers. The experimental results agree with some of the models presented in the literature. The closest agreement was seen with models developed for steep slopes especially for the highest slopes considered in the present study. Therefore, it can be concluded that the methodology used can be replicated for the study of bedload transport rates of channels with high gradients and coarse sediment particles to study more general cases of this process such as sediments with non-uniform shapes and sizes. However, a simplified model is proposed to estimate bedload transport rates for slopes up to 5%.

Trend of bed load material and bed load transport in Sungai Kenau for year 2013 until 2020

A study was carried out to determine the trend of bed load material characteristic and bed load transport rate in Sungai Kenau at Sungai Lembing, Kuantan, Pahang between year 2013 until 2020. Sediment is a material that can be moved and deposited to the new location through the river. This study will be focusing in bed load transport as it is the key component to determine the sediment transport rate in the river. Two sampling station have been chosen to measure the bed load transport in year 2013 until to 2020. Schocklitsh and Duboys equation was used to predict sediment transport load and it was compared with measured sample from Helly-Smith equipment. The collected sample was analysed to determine the trend of bed load material and bed load transport in Sungai Kenau for year 2013 until 2020. According to Duboys calculation the highest bed load transport rate is Sample 1 with 0.013220 lb/sec and the lowest is on Sample 5 with 0.002310 lb/sec both of the samples are taken on the same station but on the different day. Meanwhile according to Schocklitsh calculation the highest bed load transport rate is Sample 7 with 3.79374 lb/sec and the lowest is on Sample 5 with 1.98018 lb/sec both of the samples also taken on the same station but on the different day. It can be sure that the higher flow rate of the river the higher bed load transport rate. It can be obtain that according to Wentworth Scale the median grain size in Sungai Kenau were between 0.68 mm to 2.6 mm where the bed material can be classified as coarse sand to the very fine gravel.