Influence of Sediment Structure on Erosional Strength and Density of Kaolinite Sediment Beds
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 5
Abstract
The role of sediment pore-water chemistry and the resulting particle structure in determining the erosional stability of settled cohesive sediment beds in rivers, lakes, and estuaries is examined. Kaolinite sediment is used as the surrogate sediment in this experimental investigation with the beds settled from concentrated suspensions. The bed stability with respect to erosion or resuspension is measured in a laboratory flume as a function of sediment pore-water chemistry. The chemical properties varied are sediment pH, ionic strength, and natural organic matter. The remolded bed sample is prepared from a sediment suspension having controlled chemical properties that is allowed to settle into the flume bed where its erosional strength and density are determined with depth in the sample. Different structures of settled beds are observed with changes in chemical parameters. Under low pH and low organic content conditions, the initial suspension before settling is flocculated. The resulting settled beds show strong stratification with respect to erosional strength but weak stratification of bulk density with depth. On the other hand, under high pH or high organic content conditions at low ionic strength, the initial suspension is dispersed. The resulting settled beds have lower erosional strength and weak stratification of erosional strength with depth but strong stratification of bulk density with depth. This research shows that the relationship between erosional strength and bulk density of a settled bed depends strongly on the structure of the sediment particle associations as determined by pore-water chemistry.
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Acknowledgment
This project was partially funded by the Hazardous Substance Research Center/South and Southwest of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 131 • Issue 5 • May 2005
Pages: 356 - 365
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Feb 11, 2003
Accepted: Jul 22, 2004
Published online: May 1, 2005
Published in print: May 2005
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