Field Measurements of the Erosion of Cohesive Sediments

Authors

  • Jack W. DeVries

Keywords:

Cohesive sediments, erosion, critical shear stress, Mare Island Strait, field measurement

Abstract

Predictive modeling of estuarial fine sediment transport requires a description of the erosional properties of cohesive sediment beds. Available descriptions are commonly based upon flume experiments run on uniform beds. Field data pertaining to the erosion process are rather scarce. A field experiment was undertaken at Mare Island Strait near Vallejo, California, to address the issue of surface erosion of a cohesive sediment bed. Suspended sediment concentration and water velocity data were collected in the bottom boundary layer of this muddy estuary. As a result, the critical shear stress of erosion initiation was found to be 1.44 dynes/cm2 and the erosion rate coefficient was found to be 6.25 X 10 -4mg/cm2 -sec. These values compare favorably with results obtained in recent flume experiments.

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Published

1992-04-22

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 2 (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.