Flume Experiments under Cat-Scan to Measure Internal Sedimentological Parameter During Sediment Transport

X-Ray computed tomography (CAT scanning) has enabled the measurement of the relative density of sand ripples inside the sediment column during ripple migration. A sand ripple produced by stationary flow inside a vertical water tunnel reveals different internal density stratification on CAT-scan profiles. CAT-scan measurements provide a very precise integrated measurement of sediment transport inside the sand ripple, both at the water-sediment interface and in the water column. Results give the total sediment transport (suspended load column concentration and bed load) and illustrate the contribution of each type of sediment transport and their relative magnitude along sand ripples.