The Role of Turbulence in the Settling of Mud Flocs

Authors

  • Eric Wolanski
  • Ronald J. Gibbs
  • Yoshihiro Mazda
  • Ashish Mehta
  • Brian King

Keywords:

Cohesive sediments, compaction rate, fluid mud, lutocline, settling velocity, suspended mud, suspended sediment concentration, turbulence regime

Abstract

The compaction rate of suspended mud depends not only on the sediment concentration but also on the turbulent intensity. This effect appears to be due to the turbulence plugging micro-channels used in the dewatering process. The compaction rate decreases by a factor of up to 10 with increasing stirring or turbulence in the inhibited settling (fluid mud) range. Our findings are based on the results of laboratory experiments where this effect was measured directly, and on observations of the suspended sediment stratification cycle at tidal frequency in the Normanby River estuary, Australia.

 

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Published

1992-01-14

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 1 (1992): Journal of Coastal Research

Section

Articles

License

Authorization for personal use is granted by the Coastal Education and Research Foundation [CERF]. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that the copyright for their article is transferred to the publisher if the article is accepted for publication. Assignment of copyright is not required, however, from authors who work for organizations which do not permit such assignment, The copyright covers the exclusive rights to reprduce and distribute the article, inclduing reprints, photographic reproductions, microform, or any other reproductions of a similar nature, and translations.