A method is presented which enables the computation of the bed-load transport as the product of the saltation height, the particle velocity and the bed-load concentration. The equations of motions for a solitary particle are solved numerically to determine the saltation height and particle velocity. Experiments with gravel particles (transported as bed load) are selected to calibrate the mathematical model using the lift coefficient as a free parameter. The model is used to compute the saltation heights and lengths for a range of flow conditions. The computational results are used to determine simple relationships for the saltation characteristics. Measured transport rates of the bed load are used to compute the sediment concentration in the bed-load layer. A simple expression specifying the bed-load concentration as a function of the flow and sediment conditions is proposed. A verification analysis using about 600 (alternative) data shows that about 77% of the predicted bed-load-transport rates are within 0.5 and 2 times the observed values.

Sediment transport; Part I, Bed load transport

A method is presented which enables the computation of the suspended load as the depth-integration of the product of the local concentration and flow velocity. The method is based on the computation of the reference concentration from the bed-load transport. Measured concentration profiles have been used for calibration. New relationships are proposed to represent the size gradation of the bed material and the damping of the turbulence by the sediment particles. A verification analysis using about 800 data shows that about 76% of the predicted values are within 0.5 and 2 times the measured values.

Sediment Transport, Part II: Suspended Load Transport

Data compiled from eight decades of incipient motion studies were used to calculate dimensionless critical shear stress values of the median grain size, t* c 50 . Calculated t* c 50 values were stratified by initial motion definition, median grain size type (surface, subsurface, or laboratory mixture), relative roughness, and flow regime. A traditional Shields plot constructed from data that represent initial motion of the bed surface material reveals systematic methodological biases of incipient motion definition; t* c 50 values determined from reference bed load transport rates and from visual observation of grain motion define subparallel Shields curves, with the latter generally underlying the former; values derived from competence functions define a separate but poorly developed field, while theoretical values predict a wide range of generally higher stresses that likely represent instantaneous, rather than time-averaged, critical shear stresses. The available data indicate that for high critical boundary Reynolds numbers and low relative roughnesses typical of gravel-bedded rivers, reference-based and visually based studies have t* c50 ranges of 0.052-0.086 and 0.030-0.073, respectively. The apparent lack of a universal t*50 for gravel-bedded rivers warrants great care in choosing defendable t* c50 values for particular applications.

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A systematic analysis of eight decades of incipient motion studies, with special reference to gravel-bedded rivers

SUMMARY
Recent alluvial sediments are reviewed with respect to their geometrical, textural, structural and biological characteristics. These properties are related to the physiographic occurrence and hydraulic geometry of streams and to the dynamics of flowing water as controlling sediment transport-deposition and stream morphological activities. Based on this data, three-dimensional facies models are presented as an aid to the identification of ancient alluvial sediments, which are briefly reviewed also.

A review of the origin and characteristics of recent alluvial sediments

A method is presented that makes the classification of bed forms, the prediction of the bed‐form dimensions and the effective hydraulic roughness of the bed forms feasible. The proposed relationships are based on the analysis of reliable flume and field data. A verification analysis using about 1,500 (alternative) reliable flume and field data shows good results in predicting the hydraulic roughness (friction factor). For field conditions, the proposed method yields considerably better results than previously proposed methods, which are reviewed here. The proposed method has also been used to predict the flow depth and the total bed‐material load.

Sediment Transport, Part III: Bed Forms and Alluvial Roughness

The relationship of sediment transport to fluid flow is considered. Physical reasoning leads to dimensionless groupings of the variables which are different for coarse sediment and for fine sediment, because of dissimilar modes of transport. This concept provides a basis for a new analysis of data from flume experiments, and a method for dealing with transitional sizes of sediment is suggested. The analysis of experimental data supports the theory put forward and predictive equations are derived which relate total sediment flux to measurable properties of flow. A preliminary comparison is made with observations from other sources, including natural rivers.

Sediment Transport: New Approach and Analysis

Available information on boundary layer development beyond the crest of a spillway is reviewed. Self-aeration of the flow begins at a critical point where the boundary layer has thickened sufficiently to induce turbulence at the surface, and the calculation of this location is an important aspect of chute spillway design. A new formulation is derived that is believed to be applicable to non-standard profiles as well as to standard crest profiles leading to a chute of constant slope. This equation allows for surface roughness and the influence of flow acceleration.

General Method for Critical Point on Spillways

An experimental study of small streams in alluvium indicates correlations between stream geometry and discharge. These are compared with established regime equations, with some areas of disagreement. Results have been analyzed on the basis of sediment transport, channel roughness, and width-depth ratio. These three physical relationships can be used to predict the geometrical functions.

Peter Ackers

Papers

Sediment Transport: New Approach and Analysis

General Method for Critical Point on Spillways

Experiments on Small Streams in Alluvium

Closure to “Sediment Transport: New Approach and Analysis”

Discussion of Uniform Water Conveyance Channels in Alluvial Material by Daryl B. Simons and Maurice L. Albertson