Numerical Assessment of Source and Sink Terms for Cohesive Sediments

Abstract

Commonly used formulae for the description of erosion and deposition of cohesive sedi- ments are assessed concerning their applicability within a numerical simulation. The experi- mental database for the evaluation of the formulations in question (Partheniades and Parchure and Mehta for erosion, Krone for deposition with approaches of Krone, van Leussen and Richardson and Zaki for the settling velocity) results from erosion and deposition experi- ments with reservoir sediments in an annular flume. The detailed knowledge of the flow field in the annular flume, resulting from a 3D-LES simulation, is a prerequisite for the assessment of the terms as the 2DV sediment transport model represents a radial section of the annular flume. Comparison of the simulation of erosion and deposition experiments with the meas- urements show the need for further research as well as the suitability of the presented strategy. © 2002 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.