Mohammed Seaid: Sediment Transport Flow Models: Computational Ascpects



Due to intensive modifications in the land use such as the erection of water power plants, river engineering works and climatic changes, many rivers and coastal zones show modified sediment transport conditions. Over the recent decades, there have been continuing efforts to enhance the understanding of morphodynamic models. Typically, research on river processes was based on field observations and laboratory scale modelling. The measurements from the fields are usually costly and difficult to realize especially for large-scale sediment transport systems. On the other hand, the laboratory research has been essentially used as design and verification tools for understanding complex river processes, despite its high cost of construction, maintenance and operation. Nowadays, numerical modelling of morphodynamics has also attracted many research studies.

The aims of this lecture are to discuss the theoretical aspects of numerical sediment transport models with special emphasis on the comparison of two selected models. The goal is to develop a well-posed model for sediment transport ready to be coded in a computer program and leading to acceptable results compared to the observed ones. We also give an overview on the empirical formula used for erosion, deposition and settling velocities. Numerical results and comparisons will be presented in both one and two space dimensions. At the end of the lecture a practical answer to the question: Are we solving the correct model for a sediment transport problem? will be discussed.