Journal Article

Bedload transport in rivers, size matters but so does shape

Lavé, Jérôme, Erosion torrentielle neige et avalanches (UR ETGR (ETNA)) ; Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Piégay, Hervé, Malavoi, Jean-René, Recking, Alain, Environnement, Ville, Société (EVS) ; École normale supérieure de Lyon (ENS de Lyon) ; Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-École des Mines de Saint-Étienne (Mines Saint-Étienne MSE) ; Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] (IMT)-Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] (IMT)-Université Lumière - Lyon 2 (UL2)-Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3 (UJML) ; Université de Lyon-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA Lyon) ; Université de Lyon-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne (UJM)-École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE)-École nationale supérieure d'architecture de Lyon (ENSAL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Approches Littéraires, Linguistiques et Histori

2021

Overview

Bedload transport modelling in rivers takes into account the size and density of pebbles to estimate particle mobility, but does not formally consider particle shape. To address this issue and to compare the relative roles of the density and shape of particles, we performed original sediment transport experiments in an annular flume using molded artificial pebbles equipped with a radio frequency identification tracking system. The particles were designed with four distinct shapes and four different densities while having the same volume, and their speeds and distances traveled under constant hydraulic conditions were analyzed. The results show that particle shape has more influence than particle density on the resting time between particle displacement and the mean traveling distance. For all densities investigated, the particle shape systematically induced differences in travel distance that were strongly correlated (R-2 = 0.94) with the Sneed and Folks shape index. Such shape influences, although often mentioned, are here quantified for the first time, demonstrating why and how they can be included in bedload transport models.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group,CCSD,Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 704/2151/215 / 704/2151/3930 / Bed load / Environmental Sciences / Experiments / Humanities and Social Sciences / Influence / multidisciplinary / Particle shape / Rivers / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Sediment transport / Travel / Velocity
• ISBN: 0006219181000