Sediment Transport and Bed Topography for Realistic Unsteady Flow Hydrographs of Varying Length in a Laboratory Flume
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 4
Abstract
Complex interactions between flowing water and bedforms in rivers with sand beds during changing flow rates may result in bedforms, flow resistance, and sediment transport rates that differ on the rising and falling limbs of flow hydrographs. To study this phenomenon, laboratory experiments based on six realistically shaped hydrographs with durations of 1–6 h in 1-h increments were performed in a recirculating flume at the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) National Sedimentation Laboratory. Bed topography, water-surface slope, flow rate, and sediment transport rate were continuously monitored. Counterclockwise hysteresis between discharge and sediment transport rate as well as bedform dimensions were observed for all hydrograph lengths, and the magnitude of hysteresis was quantified. The amount of hysteresis in transport rate, bedform amplitude, and bedform length varied according to the length of the hydrograph, although the relationship was not monotonic. The Engelund–Hansen method was able to approximately predict sediment transport rates based on measured hydraulic parameters. Maximum bedform amplitudes increased with hydrograph length, while bedform lengths increased only minimally beyond the 4-h hydrograph period.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available in a repository online in accordance with funder data retention policies. The dataset that supports the findings of this study is available on Ag Data Commons at: https://doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/24851667.v1.
Acknowledgments
The work described here would not have been possible without the diligent efforts of Glenn Gray, an Engineering Technician at the National Sedimentation Laboratory. His attention to detail and consistent work ethic were greatly appreciated. The research was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service under project 6060-13000-029-00D.
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Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 4 • July 2024
Copyright
© 2024 Published by American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 2, 2023
Accepted: Feb 8, 2024
Published online: Apr 25, 2024
Published in print: Jul 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Sep 25, 2024
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