Tutorial on Sediment Transport
Mechanics
1,Examine the stability of the bed material (𝜌s =2650
kg/m3, mean diameter=1 mm) of a wide stream having a
slope of 10-3 and carrying a flow at a depth of 0.3 m. And
What type(s) of transport and bed form, if any, do you
expect in this stream?
Solution
Threshold condition: Shields criterion Wide
channel⇒R≈y0=0.3m
By constructing a d (=1 mm) line on Shields diagram we
obtain or τc=0.035×𝜌g×1.65×d
Available boundary shear stress 𝜏=𝜌gRS=2.943 N∕m2
Thus, minimum d for stability=5.2 mm>1 mm. Hence the
bed material is not stable.
And available𝜏∕𝜌gΔd=U2∗∕gΔd=RS∕(1.65×0.001)=0.181, and
from Shields diagram this relates to bed dunes to high
regime plane bed transition
2. Considering a natural stream with a bed slope I= 0.0009 and
median grain size d50 = 3mm, the flow per unit width is 12m2/s
and the water temperature is 20oc. Will the channel bed
sediment be subjected to sediment motion according to the
shields curve?
Solution
From shields curve
Using d50 = 3mm = 3*103µm,
the critical bed shear stress, b,cr = 2.2N/m2
The applied bed shear stress, b also calculated by
b = ghI
First Let’s Calculate h=?
−
From q = u h = ch1.5 I 0.5
Since d50 = 3mm> 2mm,Lets assume the flow is hydraulically
rough regime,then the chezy coefficient 12 h
C = 18 log
ks
Ks=6.8d50
Ks=6.8 *3*10-3 = 0.02m
12 h 1.5 0.5
q = Ch1.5 I 0.5 ⎯
⎯→ q = 18 log * h I
ks
12h 1.5
12 = 18 log * h (0.0009)
0.5
0.02
log(600h) * h1.5 = 22.222
Solving h by Iteration h=3.55m
➢ The applied bed shear stress
b = ghI = 1000 * 9.81 * 3.55 * 0.0009 = 31.34 N/m2
• Since b = 31.34N/m2 b ,cr = 2.2 N/m2 then the
channel bed sediment is subjected to sediment motion.
3. A wide open channel with a plane sloping bed has a bed
surface slope I=1*10-4. The bed material characteristics are
d50=3mm and d90=6mm.Other data are ρ=1000kg/m3,
ρs=2650kg/m3, v=1*10-6m2/s. What is the maximum discharge
(per unit width) without movement of bed material?
Solution
For no movement of bed material :
The applied shear bed stress, b Critical shear bed
stress, b,cr
−
From shields curve,
Using d50 = 3mm = 3*103µm,
the critical bed shear stress, b,cr = 2.2N/m2
b = ghI = b ,cr
2.2 = 1000 * 9.81 * h * 1 * 10 −4 , h = 2.24m
q = Ch1.5 I 0.5
Since d50 = 3mm> 2mm,Lets assume the flow is hydraulically
rough regime, then the chezy coefficient
12 h
C = 18 log
ks
Ks=6.8d50 =6.8*0.003=0.02
12 * 2.24 m 0 .5
C = 18 log = 56.3
0.02 s
− 4 0.5 m2
q = Ch I 1.5 0.5
= 56.3 * (2.24) 1.5
* (1 * 10 ) = 1.89
s
m2
❖ There fore, the maximum discharge per unit width is 1.89
s
4. A trapezoidal channel has water depth (in middle) of h=2m,
bottom width b=15m and side slope 1 to 2 ( ϒ=27o).The
bottom is covered with rounded stones d50=0.05m,
ks=0.05m.What are the maximum bottom slope and the
maximum discharge to obtain stable bed ( use shields)?
Solution
From shields curve,
Using d50 = 0.05m = 5*104µm,
the critical bed shear stress, b,cr = 45N/m2
i) The maximum bottom slope ( I cr )
The middle part of the channel is stable if,
b ( middle ) = b ,cr but b ,middle = ghI
ghI = b ,cr
b,cr 45
I= = = 2 *10 −3
gh 1000 * 9.81 * 2
ii. Maximum discharge (Q ) cr
Qcr = AC (RI ) 0.5
Cross sectional area, A = bh + mh 2 = 15 * 2 + 2 * 2 = 38m 2
Wetted perimeter, P = b + 2h 1 + m 2 = 15 + 2 * 2 1 + 2 2 = 24m
Hydraulic radius, A 38
R= = = 1.6m
P 24
Since d50 = 50mm> 2mm,the flow is hydraulically rough flow,
then the chezy coefficient
12 h
C = 18 log
ks
Assuming R h for wide channel
12 R
C = 18 log
ks
12 * 1.6 m 0 .5
C = 18 log = 46.52
0.05 s
Compute Qcr
−3 0.5
Qcr = AC ( RI ) 0.5
= 38 * 46.52(1.6 * 2 *10 ) = 99.995 m3
s
m3
Qcr = 100 s
Fi: Initiation of motion for a current over a plane bed, τc, cr = f (d) Shields (1936)
Thanks!!!
