Sediment Transport Capacity of Overland Flow

Abstract

ABSTRACT OVERLAND flow runoff can be either laminar or turbulent depending on the Reynolds number. The rate of soil erosion may be limited by the sediment transport capacity which depends on the type of flow. Sediment transport equations based on velocity were found to give different results than those based on shear stress. Most of the sediment transport equations developed for turbulent streams should not be applied to soil erosion by overland flow. A general relationship supported by dimensional analysis was derived. The recommended sediment transport capacity relationship can be written as a power function of slope and discharge and the range of exponents was defined from empirical relationships.