Hydraulic Estimation of Dispersion Coefficient for Streams
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 124, Issue 3
Abstract
Inclusion of longitudinal dispersion enhances realism in the assessment of transport in streams by accounting for contaminant mixing. Here we revisit the problem of estimating the longitudinal dispersion coefficient D from readily measurable bulk hydraulic variables, which is useful in applications. We develop and calibrate, through field testing, a predictor for the longitudinal dispersion coefficient for streams that is structured after the fundamental formula of G. I. Taylor. Comparison of predicted with observed values of D shows the new optimized formula providing closer estimates than the established formula of Fischer, with respect to both mean accuracy and deviations from the mean, achieving in 14 of the 24 cases studied predictive accuracy of 0.5 ≤Dobserved/Dpredicted≤ 2.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Christensen, B. A.(1977). “Discussion of `Predicting dispersion coefficients of streams,' by H. Liu.”J. Env. Eng. Div., ASCE, 103(6), 1144–1146.
2.
Fischer, H. B.(1975). “Discussion of `Simple method for predicting dispersion in streams,' by R. S. McQuivey and T. N. Keefer.”J. Env. Eng. Div., ASCE, 101(3), 453–455.
3.
Fischer, H. B., List, E. J., Koh, R.C., Imberger, J., and Brooks, N. (1979). Mixing in coastal and inland waters. Academic Press, San Diego, Calif.
4.
Holley, E., and Jirka, G. (1986). “Mixing in Rivers.”Tech. Rep. E-86-11, U.S. Army Engr. Wtrwy. Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Miss.
5.
Holley, E. R.(1969). “Unified view of diffusion and dispersion.”J. Hydr. Div., ASCE, 95(2), 621–631.
6.
Liu, H.(1977). “Predicting dispersion coefficient of streams.”J. Envir. Engrg. Div., ASCE, 103(1), 59–69.
7.
McQuivey, R. S., and Keefer, T. N.(1974). “Simple method for predicting dispersion in streams.”J. Envir. Engrg. Div., ASCE, 100(4), 997–1011.
8.
Taylor, G. I.(1953). “Dispersion of soluble matter in solvent flowing slowly through a tube.”Proc., Roy. Soc., Series A, London, England, 219, 186–203.
9.
Taylor, G. I.(1954). “The dispersion of matter in turbulent flow through a pipe.”Proc., Roy. Soc., Series A., London, England, 223, 446–468.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Mar 1, 1998
Published in print: Mar 1998
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.