Numerical Simulation of the Tidal Flow and Suspended Sediment Transport in the Qiantang Estuary
Publication: Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 3
Abstract
Results from a numerical modeling study are presented to investigate the tidal elevations, tidal current velocity, bed deformation, and suspended sediment concentration in the Qiantang Estuary, China. The Qiantang Estuary is well-known for its macrotide, which generates a hydrodynamically complex environment. This presents challenges for numerical modelers to accurately simulate the flow field and sediment transport in the region. This paper presents a mathematical model using finite volume method with unstructured mesh to simulate the tide-induced water elevation, current velocity, bed deformation, and suspended sediment transport in the Qiantang Estuary. The parameters in the model were determined using the long-term observed field data of the Qiantang Estuary. The simulated tidal elevations and current velocities agree well with the field observations. The numerical prediction of the bed deformation in 5 months is reasonably compared with the field measurements carried out in the same period. However, relatively large deviations exist between the simulated and observed suspended sediment concentrations, which are discussed in this paper.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research is sponsored by the KC Wong Education Foundation, the Royal Society of London, the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, China under Grant No. Y506306 and the International Travel Grant from The Royal Society of London and Edinburgh. The constructive comments made by reviewers and the editor have significantly improved the quality of the paper.
References
Bai, Y., Wang, Z., and Shen, H. (2003). “Three-dimensional modeling of sediment transport and effects of dredging in the Haihe Estuary.” Estuarine, Coastal Shelf Sci.ECSSD3, 56(1), 175–186.
Burton, D. J., West, J. R., Horsington, R. W., and Randle, K. (1995). “Modelling transport processes in the Ribble Estuary.” Environ. Int.ENVIDV, 21(2), 131–141.
Chen, C. S., and Liu, H. D. (2003). “An unstructured grid, finite-volume, three-dimensional, primitive equations ocean model: Application to coastal ocean and estuaries.” J. Atmos. Ocean. Technol.JAOTES, 20(1), 159–186.
Chen, J.Y., Liu, C. Z., Zhang, C. L., and Walker, H. J. (1990). “Geomorphological development and sedimentation in Qiantang Estuary and Hangzhou Bay.” J. Coastal Res.JCRSEK, 6(3), 559–572.
Dick, E. (Wendt, J. F.1996). “Introduction to finite-volume techniques in computational fluid dynamics.” Chapter 2, Computational fluid dynamics: An introduction, 2nd Ed., ed., Springer, Berlin.
Du, P. J., Ding, P. X., and Hu, K. L. (2010). “Simulation of three-dimensional cohensive sediment transport in Hangzhou Bay, China.” Acta oceanologica SinicaAOSIEE, 29(2), 98–106.
Falconer, R. A., Lin, B., and Kashefipour, S. M. (2001). “Modelling water quality processes in riverine systems.” Validation of water quality model, Anderson, M. G. and Bates, P. D., eds., Wiley, Hoboken, NJ, 358–387.
Feng, L. H., and Bao, Y. X. (2005). “Impact of human activity on the estuary of the Qiantang River and the reclamation of tidal flats and river regulation.” Environ. Geol.CGEGB3, 49(1), 76–81.
Fettweis, M., Francken, F., Pison, V., van den Eynde, D. (2006). “Suspended particulate matter dynamics and aggregate sizes in a high turbidity area.” Mar. Geol.MAGEA6, 235(1–4), 63–74.
Geng, Z. Q., Ni, Y. Q., Pan, C. H., and Zhu, J. Z. (1999). “Application of an explicit upstream FEM in estuary study.” China Ocean Eng., 13(3), 343–352.
Gillibrand, P. A., and Balls, P. W. (1998). “Modelling salt intrusion and nitrate concentrations in the Ythan estuary.” Estuarine, Coastal Shelf Sci.ECSSD3, 47(6), 695–706.
Guan, W. B., Wolanski, E., and Dong, X. L. (1998). “Cohesive sediment transport in the Jiaojiang River Estuary, China.” Estuarine, Coastal Shelf Sci.ECSSD3, 46(6), 861–871.
Guo, Y. K., Zhang, J. S., Zhang, L. X., and Shen, Y. M. (2009). “Computational investigation of typhoon-induced storm surge in the Hangzhou Bay, China.” Estuarine, Coastal Shelf Sci.ECSSD3, 85(4), 530–537.
Gust, G. (1976). “Observations on turbulent-drag reduction in a dilute suspension of clay in seawater.” J. Fluid Mech.JFLSA7, 75(1), 29–47.
Han, Z. C., Pan, C. H., Yu, J., and Chen, H. P. (2001). “Effect of large-scale reservoir and river regulation/reclamation on saltwater intrusion in Qiantang Estuary.” Sci. China, Ser. B: Chem.SCBSE5, 44(S1), 221–229.
Hayter, E. J., and Mehta, A. J. (1986). “Modelling cohesive sediment transport in estuarine waters.” Appl. Math. Modell.AMMODL, 10(4), 294–303.
Hu, K. L., Ding, P. X., Zhu, S. X., and Cao, Z. Y. (2000). “2-D current field numerical simulation integrating Yangtze Estuary with Hangzhou Bay.” China Ocean Eng., 14(1), 89–102.
Le Hir, P., et al. (2001). “Fine sediment transport and accumulations at the mouth of the Seine Estuary (France).” EstuariesESTUDO, 24(6), 950–963.
Lian, J., and Hong, R. (1995). “Turbulence characteristics of drag-reducing flows over muddy beds.” J. Hyd. Eng., 9(2), 13–24.
Lin, B. N. (1984). “Current study of unsteady transport of sediment in China.” Proc., Japan-China Bilateral Seminar on River Hydraulics and Engineering Experiences, Tokyo-Kyoto-Sapporo, Japan, 337–342.
Liu, W. C. (2006). “Modelling circulation and vertical mixing in estuaries.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng.: Marit. Eng.PICWEV, 159(2), 67–76.
Lou, J., and Ridd, P. V. (1997). “Modelling of suspended sediment transport in coastal areas under waves and currents.” Estuarine, Coastal Shelf Sci.ECSSD3, 45(1), 1–16.
Mitchell, S. B., West, J. R., Arundale, A. M. W., Guymer, I., and Couperthwaite, J. S. (1998). “Dynamics of the turbidity maxima in the upper Humber Estuary system.” Mar. Pollut. Bull.MPNBAZ, 37(3–7), 190–205.
Namin, M., Lin, B., and Falconer, R. A. (2004). “Modelling estuarine and coastal flows using an unstructured triangular finite volume algorithm.” Adv. Water Resour.AWREDI, 27(12), 1179–1197.
Neil, S. P., Copeland, G. J. M., Ferrier, G., and Folkard, A. M. (2004). “Observations and numerical modelling of a non-buoyant front in the Tay Estuary, Scotland.” Estuarine, Coastal Shelf Sci.ECSSD3, 59(1), 173–184.
Pan, C. H., Lin, B. Y., and Mao, X. Z. (2007). “Case study: Numerical modeling of the tidal bore on the Qiantang River, China.” J. Hydraul. Eng.JHEND8, 133(2), 130–138.
Shi, Y. B., Lin, B. R., and Xu, Y. C. (2005). “Characteristic of the flood level in the Qiantang Estuary and mobile-bed model for forecast.” J. Sediment Res., 1(1), 7–13 (in Chinese).
Smagorinsky, J. (1963). “General circulation experiments with the primitive equations. I: The basic experiment.” Mon. Weather Rev.MWREAB, 91(3), 99–104.
Su, M. D., Xu, X., Zhu, J. L., and Hon, Y. C. (2001). “Numerical simulation of tidal bore in Hangzhou Gulf and Qiantangjiang.” Int. J. Numer. Methods FluidsIJNFDW, 36(2), 205–247.
Wang, C. (2009). “Real-time modeling and rendering of tidal in Qiantang Estuary.” Int. J. CAD/CAM, 9(1), 79–83.
Wesseling, P. (2001). Principles of computational fluid dynamics, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Wu, Y., Falconer, R. A., and Lin, B. (2005). “Modeling trace metal concentration distributions in estuarine waters.” Estuarine, Coastal Shelf Sci.ECSSD3, 64(4), 699–709.
Xie, D. F., Wang, Z. B., Cao, S., and De Vriend, H. J. (2009). “Modeling the tidal channel morphodynamics in a macro-tidal embayment, Hangzhou Bay, China.” Cont. Shelf Res.CSHRDZ, 29(15), 1757–1767.
Xiong, S. L., Tao, G. L., Lu, X. X., Hu, X. Q., and Chen, W. (1999). “Hydraulic model of siltation of northern channel in Hangzhou Bay.” J. Hydraul. Eng.JHEND8, 125(4), 416–421.
You, A. J., Han, Z. C., Xu, Y. C., and Shi, Y. B. (2005). “Allowable water resources development of Qiantang Estuary under considering sediment deposition.” J. Sediment. Res., 5(5), 22–27 (in Chinese).
Zhang, R. J., and Xie, J. H. (1989). Sedimentation engineering in rivers, Hydraulics and Electrics Press, Beijing (in Chinese).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 3 • May 2012
Pages: 192 - 202
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 22, 2010
Accepted: Jul 27, 2011
Published online: Jul 29, 2011
Published in print: May 1, 2012
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.