An introduction to cohesive

sediment transport processes

Bas van Maren

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Contents
(1)

Fine sediment transport processes

(erosion, flocculation, consolidation)

(2)

Large-scale transport
(estuaries and coastal seas)

(3)

Implications for & effect of ecology

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1) Fine sediment processes

Fine sediment characteristics
Flocculation (& consolidation)
Erosion

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English

Min. size
(m)

Max. size
(m)

Sand

63

2000

Silt

63

Clay

Mud

63

Sand, silt and clay fractions

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1) Fine sediment processes

Flocculation / (Hindered) settling / Bed formation / Erosion

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Flocculation

Single particle velocity of mud is 0.001 to 1 mm/s (clay: 0.001

0.003 mm/s)

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Flocculation

Single particle velocity of mud is 0.001 to 1 mm/s (clay: 0.001

0.003 mm/s)
But observed settling velocity between 0.1 and 10 mm/s

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Flocculation

Single particle velocity of mud is 0.001 to 1 mm/s (clay: 0.001

0.003 mm/s)
But observed settling velocity between 0.1 and 10 mm/s
Flocculation due to

salinity
turbulence
concentration
pH

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Flocculation
Salinity & Ph
1)

Clay particles are negatively charged (red)

=> repulsive force

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Flocculation
Salinity & Ph
1)

Clay particles are negatively charged

2)

Van der Waals force (green)

=> repulsive force

=> attractive force

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Flocculation
Salinity & Ph
1)

Clay particles are negatively charged

=> repulsive force

2)

Van der Waals force

=> attractive force

3)

Double diffusive layer

=> neutralizes the negative charge, enhancing attraction
=> thickness depends on availability ions
=> attraction depends on ion concentration

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very easy to
flocculate,
compact and
strong core

easy to flocculate,
compact but weak flocs

difficult to
flocculate, weak
flocs

STABLE

very easy to flocculate,

strong flocs

Ion concentration depends on salinity & pH

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Sea

very easy to
flocculate,
compact and
strong core

easy to flocculate,
compact but weak flocs

Estaries
difficult to
flocculate, weak
flocs
very easy to flocculate,
strong flocs

STABLE

Rivers

Ion concentration depends on salinity & pH

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Flocculation
Floc size and structure depends on:
pH and Salinity:
Floc strength decreases with pH
Floc compaction increases with salinity

Turbulent energy and sediment concentration

Floc size increase with concentration
Equilibrium floc size decreases with turbulence (floc
break-up)
In reality, the floc size at low turbulence rate is low
because of long timescales.

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Flocculation
Floc size and structure depends on:
pH and Salinity:
Floc strength decreases with pH
Floc compaction increases with salinity

Turbulent energy and sediment concentration

Floc size increase with concentration
Equilibrium floc size decreases with turbulence (floc
break-up)
In reality, the floc size at low turbulence rate is low
because of long timescales.

Organic matter
Floc size increases with the amount of organic material
(polymers)

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Significant influence of organic matter:

Organic matter in mud consists mainly of polymers
(Winterwerp & Van Kesteren, 2005)
Polymers adsorb to clay and enhance flocculation by:
- Neutralizing the particle charge
- Bridging between particles

+
Mud flocs

=
Polymers

Larger flocs

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Hindered settling and consolidation

Settling primary particles
Flocculation
Hindered Settling = sedimentation of high-concentrated
suspensions where particles are retarding each other.
Reduction settling velocity 10-90%
Sedimentation
Consolidation = expulsion of excess pore water by the weight of
the sediment

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Erosion

Erosion types
Floc erosion, mass erosion

Sand-silt-clay mixtures
Effect clay
Effect silt

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Erosion types

Van Kesteren, WL|DelftHydraulics

Surface erosion
= drained process

(Winterwerp & Van Kesteren, 2005)

Mass erosion
= undrained process

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Van Kesteren, WL|DelftHydraulics

Erosion type
Cohesive strength / plasticity
Rate of pore water dissipation: permeability and
capacity to deform

Low permeability

High permeability

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Erosion type

swelling
Low permeability
sediment, undeformed

fracturing
Van Kesteren

Deformations and pore water pressures

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Clay / sand mixtures (Van Ledden, 2003)

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Effect silt & clay

Less pore volume, therefore reduced permeability

Reduction in erosion rate
Increased undrained erosion with clay content in clay-sand
mixtures
Also undrained erosion in silt beds
Floc erosion mass erosion

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3) Large-scale transport

Estuarine Turbidity Maximum

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ETM formation
1) Upstream transport by tidal
asymmetry
Sand: maximum flow
asymmetry

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ETM formation
1) Upstream transport by tidal
asymmetry
Sand: maximum flow
asymmetry

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ETM formation
1) Upstream transport by tidal
asymmetry
Sand: maximum flow
asymmetry

Mud: also / mainly slack tide

asymmetry
(combination with settling lag)

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ETM formation
(1)

(1) beginning of flood: high flow velocities and fully mixed concentration profile upstream
transport

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ETM formation

(2)

(1) beginning of flood: high flow velocities and fully mixed concentration profile upstream
transport
(2) end of flood: low flow velocities, sediment settling from suspension upstream transport

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ETM formation

(3)

(1) beginning of flood: high flow velocities and fully mixed concentration profile upstream
transport
(2) end of flood: low flow velocities, sediment settling from suspension upstream
transport
(3) beginning of ebb: low flow velocities, no sediment in suspension no transport

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ETM formation

(4)

(1) beginning of flood: high flow velocities and fully mixed concentration profile upstream
transport
(2) end of flood: low flow velocities, sediment settling from suspension upstream
transport
(3) beginning of ebb: low flow velocities, no sediment in suspension no transport
(4) end of ebb: low flow velocities, sediment settling from suspension downstream
transport

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ETM formation

Residual transport by slack tide asymmetry due to settling lag:

- always transport during flood
- partly transport during ebb

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ETM formation
1) Upstream transport by tidal asymmetry
2) Upstream transport by settling lags and scour lags

Fine sediment is transported from areas with high flow velocity to low flow
velocity

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ebb
flood

ebb
flood

1) u(A) < ucr, no transport

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ebb
flood

ebb
flood

1) u(A) < ucr, no transport

2) u(A) > ucr, upflat transport

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ebb
flood

1) u(A) < ucr, no transport

2) u(A) > ucr, upstream transport

ebb
flood

3 u(B) < ucr, sediment transported upflat

while settling

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ebb
flood

1) u(A) < ucr, no transport

2) u(A) > ucr, upstream transport

ebb
flood

3) u(B) > ucr, sediment transported

upstream while settling
4) u(B) < ucr, no transport

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ebb
flood

1) u(A) < ucr, no transport

2) u(A) > ucr, upstream transport

ebb
flood

3) u(B) < ucr, sediment transported

upstream while settling
4) u(B) < ucr, no transport
5) u(B) > ucr, downflat transport

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ebb
flood

1) u(A) < ucr, no transport

2) u(A) > ucr, upstream transport
6) u(A) < ucr, sediment transported
downflat while settling

ebb
flood

3) u(B) < ucr, sediment transported

upstream while settling
4) u(B) < ucr, no transport
5) u(B) > ucr, downstream transport

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ebb
flood

ebb
flood

Settling lag effect: sediment is transported landward because u(A) > u(B),
Therefore: the period between u = 0 and u = ucr is longer at B than at A.

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ETM formation
2) Upstream transport by settling lags and scour lags

Fine sediment is transported from a high energy environment to a low

energy environment

3) Upstream transport by gravitational circulation

4) Downstream transport by river flow

Hence: estuary will fill in in absence of river flow (effect dams!)

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3) Large-scale transport

Estuarine Turbidity Maximum

River plumes

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Interaction mud & ecology

Effect ecology on mud

Settling velocity (increasing flocculation rate)

Biostabilisation (reduced erosion rate)
Bioturbation (increased erosion rate)
Sediment trapping (mangroves, salt marshes, mussel beds)

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Bioturbation

Biostabilisation

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Effect mangroves on mud

Coastal protection loss of mangroves results in erosion

Sediment trap loss of mangroves results in
increased turbidity which harm corals and sea grass
Increased sedimentation in tidal channels

Salinity filter loss of mangroves results in increased salinity

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Interaction mud & ecology

Effect ecology on mud

Settling velocity (increasing flocculation rate)

Biostabilisation (reduced erosion rate)
Bioturbation (increased erosion rate)
Sediment trapping (mangroves, salt marshes, mussel beds)

Effect mud on ecology

High C reduces primary production (making of organic compounds in
the water column)
High sedimentation rates suffocates sea grass and corals

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Effect mud on corals & sea

grass

Effect mud on corals: Sediment particles stick on corals and

choke them
High sedimentation usually because of
Increased mud supply by land clearance (destruction of forests)
Dredging
Loss of mangroves (sediment sink)

Effect loss of corals & sea grass:

Nursery room for fish
Coastal defense

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