A comparison between Shields' threshold criterion and the movement of loosely packed gravel in a tidal channel

Abstract

ABSTRACT Observations of the threshold of movement of loosely packed gravel in a tidal current are described. For gravel with equivalent ‘spherical’ diameters D in the range 0.2 ≲ D ≲ 5.0cm the critical friction velocity u * c , corresponding to the initiation of sediment transport, is given by u * c =7.0 D 0.2 . At large values of D within the quoted range, the value u * c is significantly lower than would be obtained by a Shields experiment ( u * c ∞ D 0.5 ). By comparing our values of u * c with those obtained under well‐controlled laboratory conditions, the discrepancy with Shields is shown to be due to the open spacing between, and exposure of, individual pebbles on the seabed. By comparing our results with those from upland gravel streams and flume experiments, it is suggested that Shields assumed an excessively large water depth to particle size ratio as a constraint within which the critical sediment entrainment number 0 c is valid.