Experiments on the Morphodynamics of Open Channel Confluences: Implications for the Accumulation of Contaminated Sediments

Abstract

Abstract Contaminated sediments are common in river networks. The flow convergence and particular flow structures in confluences, such as the flow separation zone, may result in greater accumulation of contaminated sediments than in other river locations, but this issue is rarely studied. In addition, the contaminated sediment transport is driven by the particular morphodynamics occurring at confluences. This article describes a novel confluence flume experiment on both morphodynamics and deposition patterns of contaminated sediments as a function of geometric and flow conditions. The initial equilibrium bed geometry was developed from a mobile bed and then fixed, allowing for subsequent flow velocimetry and sediment feeding. Colored sediments of fine gradation, which mimic contaminated sediments, were then fed to the tributary channel. The results suggest that the junction angle primarily determines the confluence bed morphology and sediment transport pattern while the discharge ratio is a secondary factor. It was also observed that most introduced sediments tended to deposit immediately after the cessation of feeding at the stoss of the bar in the flow separation zone. The time history of the transport of the contaminated sediments was also investigated. Sediment that initially deposited at the stoss of the bar eventually moved to the lee of the bar and deposited around the bar downstream of the confluence, demonstrating that the sedimentation pattern evolved to a state similar to the equilibrium bed morphology.