Erosion Mechanism Research Articles

Effects of sediment characteristics on the erosion of Pelton turbine

As Pelton turbines are increasingly used in high mountain regions because of their unique advantage of high-water head adaptability, the hydraulic characteristics and multi-phase flow behaviour in Pelton turbines have attracted the attention of many scholars. Most notably, the presence of solid particles such as sand exists in natural river systems, which end up in the turbines, causing erosion. This has become an international academic issue which has not been fully developed yet. In this study, three-phase simulations based on Eulerian–Lagrangian methodology are conducted to investigate the erosion phenomenon, especially in the bucket region. Sediment particle characteristics such as size and concentration in both the distribution system and buckets region are analysed. The innovation of this study is that, unlike other erosion investigations, it focuses on the impact angle of the jet flow as this is a unique characteristic of Pelton turbines. Furthermore, the sediment particle's flow characteristics at different bucket rotating angles and how they influence the erosion mechanism are also investigated. Results reveal that larger particles cause greater erosion on the bucket. In small particle and standard diameter conditions, the impact angle is mostly below 5 ∘ . Finally, this study presents the first successful attempt in using rotating angle to describe the erosion in a Pelton turbine. A corrected erosion model adapted to the Pelton turbine is given through regression and proves effective in predicting erosion.

Effect and mechanism of erosion in Pelton turbine and case studies—A review

Pelton turbines are widely used in hydropower stations located in mountainous regions, especially with water head drop of more than 2000 m. Due to the complex structure and working principle of the turbine, the flow is more complicated than reaction turbines, making the numerical simulation more difficult. The impulse action causes the occurrence of erosion phenomena in Pelton turbines, which will directly decrease the hydraulic efficiency and reduce the turbine's life. For investigating the erosion characteristics, computational fluid dynamics is widely used on variegated platforms according to their unique advantage. Thus, different platforms are introduced and compared in solving the multi-phase flow using a discrete element method or the other meshless methods. In addition, the erosion mechanism is studied and classified in different aspects such as impact angle and impact velocity. However, unlike the feasibility of numerical simulations, experimental work on the erosion mechanism is still challenging to reproduce. Furthermore, the state of experimental research is discussed by listing the various major facilities in operation and comparing their methods of experimental analysis. Case studies all over the world provide a very rich database of erosion patterns which would be highly useful in validation and verification of simulation and experimental results. Studies have shown that particle parameters, such as size, concentration, shape, velocity, and the interaction between particles and material surfaces, significantly impact the erosion of Pelton turbines. In response to this erosion, upgrading materials and implementing geometric optimization have proven to be effective strategies.

Plasma characteristics and material erosion mechanism in multi-channel wire electrical discharge machining

Multi-channel wire electrical discharge machining (MC-WEDM) is an advanced and high-efficiency machining technology, but its material erosion mechanism remains unclear. In this study, dual-channel wire electrical discharge machining was utilized as a case study to investigate the impact of the plunging current on both the plasma characteristics and material erosion under complex discharge conditions. Force analysis was conducted on the charged particles in the plasma, revealing that the plunging current can influence the trajectory of the plasma by modifying the self-magnetic field. The particle tracking method was employed to simulate the motion of electrons, revealing that in MC-WEDM, electrons exhibited a larger and more uniform distribution. The evolution of the plasma within a single-pulse discharge was observed using high-speed photography technology, and the discharge signals collected from different channels were analyzed. It was observed that the plasma in MC-WEDM experienced more intense back-and-forth sweeping on the workpiece surface, facilitating the ejection of molten metal from the molten pool. The oscillating plasma exhibits a larger processing area and a more uniform distribution of energy, resulting in the formation of larger and shallower discharge craters. Furthermore, the influence of the amplitude and time point of the plunging current on the volume and area of the discharge craters was summarized. Finally, MC-WEDM significantly reduced the occurrence of holes and micro-cracks and exhibited a thinner recast layer in the continuous discharge experiment.

Response of soil erosion to vegetation and terrace changes in a small watershed on the Loess Plateau over the past 85 years

Land use on the Chinese Loess Plateau has undergone dramatic changes over the past few decades. The implementation of a series of soil and water conservation measures has significantly altered the soil erosion, transportation, and deposition processes on the Loess Plateau. To effectively address and mitigate soil erosion, it is crucial to accurately quantify the soil loss rate and analyze the contributions of soil and water conservation measures over the past several decades. In this study, the Zhifanggou watershed, located in the hilly area of the Chinese Loess Plateau, is utilized as an illustrative example. Using historical data, remote sensing imagery, and on-site data of soil, vegetation, and soil conservation measures, we assessed the soil loss rates from 1938 to 2022 based on long-term land use changes, utilizing the Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE) model. Furthermore, we employed a quantitative evaluation to assess the impacts of vegetation change and terrace construction on soil erosion. The findings of our study reveal significant transformations in land use. Farmland experienced an initial increase followed by a subsequent decline, while the opposite pattern was observed for forest land. The simulated soil loss rate for the entire watershed exhibited an upward trend, rising from 34.86 t·ha−1·yr−1 in 1938 to 104.11 t·ha−1·yr−1 in 1958, before declining to 56.98 t·ha−1·yr−1 in 1999 and reaching 5.87 t·ha−1·yr−1 in 2022. Attribution analysis showed that vegetation change exerted a dominant influence on recent soil erosion dynamics, accounting for 86.10 % of the total contribution in 2022, while terraces contributed 13.90 %. These findings clarify long-term soil erosion mechanisms and provide guidance for watershed soil and water conservation management.

The Influence of Human Activity and Environmental Factors on Gully Erosion

Gully erosion, far from confined to specific terrains like badlands or mountainous areas, stands as a global issue contributing significantly to land degradation across various soil types susceptible to crusting or piping. Even after initial triggers cease, formed gullies can persistently generate sediment. This study delves into the multifaceted influences of geology, climate, slope morphology, vegetation, human impact, and soil properties on gully development and broader soil erosion. Drawing from empirical examples globally and locally, it underscores the pivotal role of local soil characteristics in propagating erosion, particularly the gully variant. Anthropogenic factors, especially land use practices and their impact on vegetation, weigh heavily. Rampant deforestation coupled with insufficient re-vegetation or afforestation initiatives have exacerbated the looming erosion threats, contributing to catastrophic consequences. Despite the effectiveness of various strategies in preventing and addressing gully erosion, their sustained implementation on a large scale remains elusive. Thus, research priorities must encompass sub-surface flow erosion mechanisms, predictive models, and the intricate dynamics influencing farmers' adoption or rejection of conservation strategies. To combat soil erosion comprehensively, a holistic approach to soil conservation becomes imperative. This entails employing hydrological or bioenvironmental processes to regulate overland flow and curb excessive runoff. Prioritizing these aspects can inform more robust strategies for soil conservation, mitigating the pervasive impact of erosion on our lands. Keywords: Influence, Human, Activity, Environmental Factors and Gully Erosion

Soil Erosion Characteristics in Tropical Island Watersheds Based on CSLE Model: Discussion of Driving Mechanisms

Previous research has primarily focused on soil erosion issues in arid and semi-arid regions, with a limited understanding of soil erosion mechanisms in tropical areas. Additionally, there is a lack of a holistic perspective to determine the spatial attribution of soil erosion. The conversion of tropical rainforests into economically driven plantations, like rubber and pulpwood, has resulted in distinct soil erosion characteristics in specific regions. To enhance our knowledge of soil erosion patterns and mechanisms in tropical regions, it is necessary to examine soil erosion in the three major watersheds of Hainan Island from 1991 to 2021, which encompass significant geographical features such as tropical island water sources and tropical rainforest national parks. The study employed the China Soil Loss Equation (CSLE) model, slope trend analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, land-use transfer matrix, and spatial attribution analysis to examine soil erosion under different scenarios. The research results indicate that scenarios driven by the combination of natural and human factors have the greatest impact on soil erosion changes in the entire study area. Co-driven increases affected 53.56% of the area, while co-driven decreases affected 21.74%. The 31-year soil erosion showed an overall increasing trend. Human factors were identified as the primary drivers of increased soil erosion in the Nandu River basin, while a combination of climate and anthropogenic factors influenced the decrease in soil erosion. In the Changhua River basin, climate and human activities contributed to the soil erosion increase, while human activities primarily caused the decrease in soil erosion. In the Wanquan River basin, climate intensified soil erosion, whereas human activities mitigated it. This study underscores the significant combined impact of human activities and natural factors on soil erosion in tropical regions. It emphasizes the importance of considering human-induced factors when implementing soil erosion control measures in tropical regions.

Assessment of loess terraced slope erosion using unmanned aerial vehicle photogrammetry: Topographic and hydrological effects

AbstractTerraced slopes are widely used in the Loess Plateau to control gully erosion, yet their potential to induce new erosion patterns remains overlooked. Here we used unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry to obtain centimeter‐resolution digital surface models (DSMs) and derived hydrological networks, slopes, aspects, and curvatures of the terraced slopes. Our analysis reveals terraces disrupted natural water pathways, spurring new rill formations during each rainy season—a process neglected by models. Intriguingly, despite gentler gradients, terraced slopes exhibited higher erosion rates than steeper gullies, with widespread rills on terrace ridges. Vegetation‐induced deposition surpassed erosion by 1.52 times, but moisture evaporation on sunny slopes limited plant growth and enhanced erosion. We propose targeted strategies tailored to these erosion mechanisms, including terrace redesign, runoff diversion, slope strengthening, and suitable vegetation, advancing sustainable land management. However, this study faces limitations due to the reliance on drone photogrammetry, which may be influenced by environmental factors like varying solar angles and vegetation growth, and the lack of extensive field validation to support the UAV‐derived data. Our study spotlights drone photogrammetry's potential for elucidating complex erosion dynamics on terraced slopes.

Influence of bioactive glass addition on the machinability, mechanical and biological response of Mg-PSZ-based biocomposites

The incorporation of bioactive glass (BG) into zirconia-based composite materials shows a feasible option to enhance the biological properties, reduce the sintering temperature, and resist the transformation of the tetragonal phase of zirconia. In this present work, the bioceramic composites, having the general formula [(100-x) (8 Mg-PSZ) – x (13–93 BG)] where x = 0 to 25 wt%, have been prepared and evaluated the effect of BG amounts on the machinability, mechanical and biological behavior of the composite material. The machining experiment is performed on an abrasive air jet machine (AAJM), and machinability is evaluated in the form of material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (SR), and mechanics of material erosion (MME) at room temperature. The machinability results show that MRR decreases with enhancing the BG contents, and the SR follows the opposite trend of MRR. The MME indicates that the material is removed from the surface mainly due to the erosion crater and brittle fracture. Further, mechanical properties are evaluated, and it is found that the inclusion of BG frits and sintering temperature is substantially associated with the relative densities and the mechanical characteristics. Adding BG reinforcements increases the mechanical characteristics at lower sintering temperatures (1250 °C) while reducing the mechanical characteristics except hardness at higher sintering temperatures (1350 °C). Elastic modulus decreases with the addition of BG content up to 15 wt%; after that, it slightly increases up to 25 wt%. The in-vitro bioactivity and bio-degradation are tested in simulated body fluid (SBF), and both are increased by enhancing the BG contents up to 25 wt%. The in-vitro cell culture is performed on the MG-63 cell line. The biocompatibility increases with BG concentration (up to 25 wt%). Based on experimental results, it may be concluded that 8 Mg-PSZ/13-93BG bioceramic composites may be a potential choice for biomedical applications.

Insights into the cause of the Oroville dam spillway failure, 2017, California.

Earth internal seepage erosion in weathered bedrock under infrequently used hydraulic structures is often overlooked, which causes some solid particles to break away from the solid skeleton, degrading the earth's strength, and even causing unanticipated hydraulic engineering failures. The flood on the Oroville dam spillway in California in 2017 was caused by disturbed water flow due to a crack in the spillway chute caused by internal erosion in poorly weathered bedrock. The abnormal water flow of the spillway in the early stage and subsequent investigation revealed that the main reason for the accident was the insufficient weathered bedrock under the spillway chute. In this study, we formulated a coupled hydro-mechanical mechanism for internal erosion in weathered bedrock during the early stages. Using this model, we conducted an internal erosion numerical simulation at early stage, and the results showed that the physical characteristics of the weathered bedrock were degraded. Our results show the coupling analysis of quantitative computation during the early stage of internal erosion in weathered bedrock, which can provide an early warning method for the occurrence of internal erosion to avoid hydraulic disasters.

A Review of Cavitation Erosion on Pumps and Valves in Nuclear Power Plants.

The cavitation erosion failure of pumps or valves induces the low efficiency and reduced service life of nuclear reactors. This paper reviews works regarding the cavitation erosion of pumps and valves in the nuclear power industry and academic research field. The cavitation erosion mechanisms of materials of pumps and valves are related to the microstructure and mechanical properties of the surface layer. The cavitation erosion resistance of austenitic stainless steel can be ten times higher than that of ferritic steel. The cavitation erosion of materials is related to the hardness, toughness, and martensitic transformation capacity. Erosion wear and erosion-corrosion research is also reviewed. Erosion wear is mainly influenced by the hardness of the material surface. Erosion-corrosion behavior is closely connected with the element composition. Measures for improving the cavitation erosion of pumps and valves are summarized in this paper. The cavitation erosion resistance of metallic materials can be enhanced by adding elements and coatings. Adhesion, inclusion content, and residual stress impact the cavitation erosion of materials with coatings.

Degradation mechanisms of concrete cold joint surfaces under sulfate cycles and varying pouring intervals

In concrete structures, particularly in arid and saline environments, the cold joint surface often serves as a primary entry point for erosion damage, thus dictating the lower limit of structural durability. This study investigates the erosion and damage mechanisms of cold joint concrete under such conditions, focusing on specimens with varying pouring intervals (0.25 d, 0.5 d, 1 d, 7 d, and 28 d). These specimens underwent 0, 30, 90, and 150 sulfate dry‒wet cycles, with their degradation assessed through compression‒shear tests. The findings reveal a logarithmic relationship between the cold joint surface adhesion and the pouring interval, and similarly, there is a logarithmic relationship between the internal friction angle and the pouring interval. Shorter intervals correspond to a higher rate of decrease in both adhesion and internal friction angle, while longer intervals result in lower, eventually stabilizing, values of these properties. Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis indicates that inherent defects in the cold joint surface expedite sulfate penetration into the concrete. As the number of sulfate cycles increases, ettringite formation in the cracks leads to their expansion and interconnection, diminishing the shear resistance of the cold joint surface. The study shows that the pouring interval significantly influences corrosion resistance, with its effects becoming more pronounced after a threshold of sulfate cycles (approximately 90). Shear strength is found to be more susceptible to sulfate erosion compared to compressive strength, with a faster degradation rate. After 80 to 110 erosion cycles, the adhesion corrosion resistance drops to 75%, while the compressive strength remains above this threshold.

Characteristics and dynamic mechanism of rill erosion driven by extreme rainfall on karst plateau slopes, SW China

Driven by climate change and increased human activities, the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events are increasing, leading to increased risk of water erosion on slopes in karst rocky desertification (KRD) areas. However, the driving factors (rainfall intensity, slope gradient, and the degree of underground fissure pore), characteristics, and dynamic mechanisms of rill erosion on KRD slopes under extreme rainfall have received limited attention. A rainfall simulation experiment was performed to investigate the driving factors of rill erosion on KRD slopes under extreme rainfall events. The experiments were conducted using an erosion flume (4 m long, 1.5 m wide and 0.35 m deep) with five rainfall intensities (50, 105, 115, 125 and 145 mm·h−1), three-level slope gradients (5°, 15° and 25°), and three typical degrees of underground pore fissure (1 %, 3 % and 5 %). The results showed that extreme rainfall significantly stimulated the formation and development of rill erosion on KRD slopes. In particular, rainfall intensity and slope gradient significantly affected rill erosion (p < 0.05), whereas the degree of underground pore fissure did not have any distinct effect. Increasing rainfall intensity intensified rill erosion by significantly (p < 0.05) promoting the rill density, total rill surface area, and longest of rill length. With increasing slope gradient, the rill density, rill distribution density, and average rill depth significantly increased (p < 0.05). Moreover, extreme rainfall events exacerbated surface soil erosion by enhancing the hydrodynamic characteristics of slope runoff. Rill erosion was most sensitive to the shear stress of runoff, and rill density was found to be the most suitable rill index for describing surface soil erosion on the slope under extreme rainfall. The findings provide valuable insights into the characteristics and mechanisms of soil erosion in karst regions under future climate warming.

Ultrasonic cavitation erosion of CFRP composites

To date, cavitation erosion of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites has attracted only limited scientific attention. This paper investigates this knowledge gap through a series of experiments, in which unidirectional and bidirectional (2x2 twill) CFRP composites were exposed to cavitation clouds produced by an ultrasonic transducer in distilled water. Both composites were bonded with epoxy resin. Cavitation erosion tests were conducted according to the ASTM G32-16 standard using a stationary specimen method. The effect of water absorption on monitoring erosion damage was studied using saturated and dry specimens. Specimen mass loss measurements and microscopy observations were done at regular intervals throughout testing. Erosion imprint topographies were studied using X-ray computed microtomography. Three distinct erosion stages were identified from the erosion process observations. Nonuniformities in surface geometry and properties facilitated nucleation and accelerated local erosion. Surface epoxy thickness, fibre diameter and packing, and thickness and layup of fibre bundles influenced the erosion process. The erosion mechanisms included cracking and debonding of epoxy, and tunnelling and trenching in fibre bundles. Research findings indicated that the composite internal structure can potentially be designed for reduced water absorption and increased erosion resistance. Acoustic impedance was most efficient in predicting material response to cavitation erosion.

Modeling and analysis for material removal and surface roughness in fluid jet polishing of optical glass

Fluid jet polishing (FJP) is a non-contact polishing technology that can fabricate free-form optical surfaces with sub-micron-level form accuracy and nano-level surface roughness, especially for hard and brittle materials. The surface generation model of FJP can be used to guide the determination and optimization of process parameters and is of great significance for understanding the evolution mechanism of surface microtopography. However, predictive models for the microscopic topography of polished surfaces are still lacking. This study established a macroscopic surface profile model for predicting 3D material removal characteristics and surface texture by combining the 3D computer fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation model and single-particle erosion mechanism. A fractal theory-based erosion model has been built to calculate the material removal caused by the erosion of a single abrasive particle on the rough surface; thus, it predicts the micro-topography and surface roughness of the polished samples. A series of polishing experiments were conducted to analyze the feasibility and accuracy of the model quantitatively and study the influence mechanism of process parameters on the material removal characteristics and surface quality. Results indicated that the models could well predict material removal and surface roughness. The prediction accuracy of the surface roughness Ra and maximum removal depth is better than 91.6% and 90%, respectively. It is also found that the material removal rate of FJP could reach 0.517 mm3/min, and the surface roughness convergence rate could reach 62.9%.

Exploration of wear and slurry erosion mechanisms of laser clad CoCrFeNi + x (NbC) high entropy alloys composite coatings

Wear and slurry erosion are common problems in the operation of underwater components. Preventive maintenance can extend the service life of underwater components and increase the working efficiency. CoCrFeNi + x (NbC) (x = 5 wt%, 10 wt% and 15 wt%) high entropy alloys (HEAs) composite coatings were prepared on the surface of 316 stainless steel (SS) commonly acted as underwater components combined with laser cladding (LC). The microstructure, wear and slurry erosion behaviors of the coatings were investigated. During the solidification, NbC could serve as the nucleation site for non-uniform nucleation and play a pinning role, promoting the formation of fine equiaxed grains and refining the grains of the composite coatings greatly. The average grain size decreased from 52.19 µm of Nb-free coating to 12.85 µm of CoCrFeNi + 15 wt% NbC composite coating. NbC also promoted the formation of low angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) and geometrically necessary dislocations (GND), the LAGBs of CoCrFeNi + 15 wt% NbC composite cladding layer reached 63.4% with ρGND up to 1.51 × 1015 m−2. CoCrFeNi + 10w.% NbC coating achieved higher microhardness (450.8 ± 5 HV0.2) thanks to the combined action of various strengthening mechanisms. Simultaneously, it obtained stronger wear resistance, with a specific wear rate of 0.17 × 10−4 mm3/Nm. In addition to oxidative wear, abrasive wear and adhesive wear coexisted on its worn surface. In slurry erosion test, the cumulative mass loss of CoCrFeNi + 10 wt% NbC HEAs composite coating was the lowest in each cycle and grew more slowly due to its higher microhardness and uniform distribution of reinforcement phases. The erosion mode of 316 SS and CoCrFeNi coating was mainly ductile fracture, while NbC-containing composite coatings exhibited a failure mode combining brittleness and ductility.

Research on the Erosion of Gun Barrel Based on Vented Vessel Tests

The vented vessel test, as an alternation of the firing practice, is implemented to reconstruct the deterioration process of the gun barrel suffering the thermochemical erosion by propellant combustion gas. High pressure of over 300 MPa with a duration exceeding 20 ms is applied on the rifled specimen. A phase transition layer about 136 μm is observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) from the cross section of the test specimen. Some residual oxidation products of the iron can be detected by energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) on parts of the inner surface. A comprehensive erosion analysis is conducted, which estimates that the mass loss of the specimen is mainly attributed to the periodical formation and peeling of the chemical reaction layer on the bore surface. The most severely eroded part is located on the corner of the land. On the basis of the examined erosion mechanisms, a proper thermochemical erosion model is employed. The mass dissipation and the geometry evolution under continuous firing are simulated using finite element method (FEM). The simulation phenomenon shows good consistency with results of the experimental tests.

Experimental Investigation on the Rheological Properties and Erosion Mechanisms of Chloride Salt–Modified Asphalt Mortar

Experimental Investigation on the Rheological Properties and Erosion Mechanisms of Chloride Salt–Modified Asphalt Mortar

Effects of tillage microrelief units on splash erosion: A case study from the Loess Plateau, in China

A tillage microrelief unit is the smallest spatially discontinuous area unit of tillage microrelief. Understanding the impact of tillage microrelief units on splash erosion is essential for selecting suitable tillage measures and employing soil and water conservation practices. The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics and mechanisms of splash erosion under different tillage microrelief units in various directions and distances using the rainfall simulation experiment in the soil landscape of the Loess Plateau region in China, characterized primarily by sloping farmland as the main land use type. Three typical microrelief units, namely, artificial digging (AD), contour tillage (CT), and straight slope conditions (SSC) were designed at 0°, 3°, 5°, 10°, 15°, and 20° slopes. Tillage microrelief units with high surface roughness produced more splash erosion than flat lands. Further, the highest surface roughness increased the total splash amount by 102% relative to flat lands. The tillage microrelief unit itself was elevated with a certain slope, which increased the downslope splash of CT, SSC, and AD by 121%, 173%, and 11%, respectively. Different surface roughness values and slopes under different microrelief units were used to determine the amount of splash erosion. The results showed that the total splash amount responded significantly (P < 0.01) to the interaction between surface roughness and slope, and the sensitivity to roughness was higher than that to slope. According to the single-factor analysis, the surface roughness of all slopes significantly influenced the amount of splash erosion. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the tillage microrelief unit to the slope decreased because of the high slope under high surface roughness. Overall, the results of this study showed that in different tillage microrelief units of slopes in the Loess Plateau, SSC and CT significantly increased the outward splash erosion in this area, while AD significantly decreased the outward splash erosion. Moreover, slope did not have a considerable influence.

Further study of the erosion mechanism of calcium salt on 517 phase

As the main hydration product of magnesium oxysulfate (MOS) cement, 517 phase (5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7H2O) is one of the main sources of MOS cement strength. This paper mainly explores the erosion process and mechanism of calcium ions in the 517 phase. The 517 phase with 94.56% purity was synthesised and the erosion effect of different calcium salts on the 517 phase was characterised. Results show that, in the solution, Ca2+ combined with SO42− in the 517 phase, resulting in an increase in the spacing between the MgO6 octahedron layers in the 517 phase, thus destroying the structure of the 517 phase. Moreover, when ions diffused, the MgO6 octahedron and Cl− recombined into the 518 phase (5Mg(OH)2·MgCl2·8H2O). In addition, insoluble weddellite was found to erode the 517 phase to a certain extent, whereas the 517 phase blended with gypsum was stable. The simulation results of molecular dynamics also showed that Ca2+ had better adsorption ability for SO42− and Cl− than Mg2+. When it was in contact with the 517 phase, Ca2+ was absorbed near SO42− and Cl− was brought into the system.

Statistical characterization of erosion and sediment transport mechanics in shallow tidal environments – Part 2: Suspended sediment dynamics

Abstract. A proper understanding of sediment resuspension and transport processes is key to the morphodynamics of shallow tidal environments. However, a complete spatial and temporal coverage of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) to describe these processes is hardly available, preventing the effective representation of depositional dynamics in long-term modelling approaches. Through aiming to couple erosion and deposition dynamics in a unique synthetic theoretical framework, we here investigate SSC dynamics, following a similar approach to that adopted for erosion (D'Alpaos et al., 2024). The analysis with the peak-over-threshold theory of SSC time series computed using a fully coupled, bi-dimensional model allows us to identify interarrival times, intensities, and durations of over-threshold events and test the hypothesis of modelling SSC dynamics as a Poisson process. The effects of morphological modifications on spatial and temporal SSC patterns are investigated in the Venice Lagoon, for which several historical configurations in the last 4 centuries are available. Our results show that, similar to erosion events, SSC can be modelled as a marked Poisson process in the intertidal flats for all the analysed morphological lagoon configurations because exponentially distributed random variables describe over-threshold events well. Although erosion and resuspension are intimately intertwined, erosion alone does not suffice to describe also SSC because of the non-local dynamics due to advection and dispersion processes. The statistical characterization of SSC events completes the framework introduced for erosion mechanics, and together, they represent a promising tool to generate synthetic, yet realistic, time series of shear stress and SSC for the long-term modelling of tidal environments.