Settling velocity of the suspended sediment in three high-energy environments

Research areas:

• Environnement, Paléo-Environnement et Bio-Indicateurs (2011 - 2016)

Year:

2006

Keywords:

Settling velocity, Cohesive sediment, Suspended matter, Diluted suspension, Gamma distribution, Deposition

Authors:

• Martin Sanchez-Angulo

Journal:

Ocean Engineering

Volume:

33

Number:

5

Pages:

665 - 678

ISSN:

0029-8018

BibTex:

@article{SANCHEZ2006665, author = "Martin Sanchez-Angulo", abstract = "The in situ distribution by weight of the suspended sediment is studied in terms of settling velocity. The available published data concerning this distribution in three high-energy regions (San Francisco Bay, Thames estuary and Loire estuary) is in good accordance with a gamma distributed settling velocity. The vertical dynamics of the suspended aggregates in a flow is examined under steady state conditions. As a consequence of this dynamics, if the settling velocity of the suspended sediment mass at the bottom is gamma distributed, then, settling velocity is gamma distributed at every level z in the water column. In this case the vertical variation of the local mean settling velocity W¯ is proportional to a power 1/r of the local concentration C, where r is the gamma distribution shape parameter.", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2005.05.009", issn = "0029-8018", journal = "Ocean Engineering", keywords = "Settling velocity, Cohesive sediment, Suspended matter, Diluted suspension, Gamma distribution, Deposition", number = "5", pages = "665 - 678", title = "{S}ettling velocity of the suspended sediment in three high-energy environments", url = "http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0029801805001824", volume = "33", year = "2006", }

Abstract:

The in situ distribution by weight of the suspended sediment is studied in terms of settling velocity. The available published data concerning this distribution in three high-energy regions (San Francisco Bay, Thames estuary and Loire estuary) is in good accordance with a gamma distributed settling velocity. The vertical dynamics of the suspended aggregates in a flow is examined under steady state conditions. As a consequence of this dynamics, if the settling velocity of the suspended sediment mass at the bottom is gamma distributed, then, settling velocity is gamma distributed at every level z in the water column. In this case the vertical variation of the local mean settling velocity W¯ is proportional to a power 1/r of the local concentration C, where r is the gamma distribution shape parameter.