Suspended-Load Transport

The mode of sediment transport where the sediment particles are surrounded by the fluid over an appreciably long period of time is known as the suspended-load transport[aut]Suspended-load transportdefinition. This chapter introduces basic concepts of sediment suspension and formulations to predict the suspended-load transport rate. The introduction to[aut]Turbulent kinetic energy budget componentsadvection advection–diffusion model made a considerable progress in deriving the distribution of sediment concentration in sediment-laden flows. Diffusion in turbulent flow[aut]Turbulent flow results in an exchange of momentum and suspended sediment particles between the flow layers. When the terminal fall velocity of sediment is slow enough, the sediment particles go in suspension. The suspended-load transport[aut]Suspended-load transportdefinition rate is readily computed from the known vertical distributions of sediment concentration and flow velocity. Also, based on the energy concept, gravitational theory was developed to determine the distribution of suspended sediment particles. The work done per unit time of a unit volume of fluid and suspended sediment mixture is to transfer from a flow layer to another. The conservation of energy is preserved separately in the fluid and sediment phases by balancing the energy supplied and the energy dissipated. The effects of suspended load on velocity distribution, von KármánVon Kármán, T., constant, and turbulence characteristics are also discussed in details. Further, the findings on the[aut]Effects of suspended loadon turbulence characteristicsresponse of turbulent bursting response of turbulent burst[aut]Burstturbulent burst to sediment suspension are detailed. The turbidity currents are characterized by a rapidly advancing submerged sediment-laden current moving down a slope. The turbidity current formation and its mathematical modeling are discussed. The computation of suspended-load transport[aut]Suspended-load transportdefinition rate is exemplified through worked-out problems.