A sediment transport capacity formulation for application to large channel networks

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A sediment transport capacity algorithm for estimating large scale propagation and redistribution of sediments in channel networks is proposed. The algorithm computes transport capacity by size fraction using four established sediment transport equations with modified critical shear stress to account for the equal mobility property of sediment mixtures. The algorithm was tested against a large number of measured data and produced consistent results for a wide range of flow and sediment characteristics. The broad applicability of the algorithm makes it suitable for estimation of sediment transport capacity in large channel networks with spatial variability in channel, flow, and sediment characteristics.