Sediment Transportation Mechanics: Nature of Sedimentation Problems

Sedimentation embodies the processes of erosion, entrainment, transportation, deposition, and the compaction of sediment. These are natural and complex processes that have been active throughout geological times and have shaped the landscape. The principal external dynamic agents of sedimentation are water, wind, gravity, and ice. Only hydrospheric forces will be considered in the manual. The damages created by sediment are varied and extensive and depend on the amount and character of sediment, which, in turn, is influenced by the processes of erosion, transport, and deposition. Much useful information is presently available on these processes and will be presented in subsequent chapters of this manual.