MODE OF TRANSPORT

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Mode of Transport
z When the flow characteristics (velocity, average
shear stress etc.) in an alluvial channel exceed
the threshold condition for the bed material the
particles moves in different modes along the flow
direction.
z Some particle roll or slide along the bed
inermittently and some others saltate (hopping
and bouncing along the bed).
z Finer particles (with low fall velocities) are
entrained in suspension by the fluid turbulence
and transported along the channel in suspension.

[Featherstone and Nalluri, 1995] 2 of 12

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 transport determinants

z particle size
z particle shape
z particle specific gravity
z velocity
z sediment discharge

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Mode of Sediment Transport

z There are two common classifications of
the load in the stream [chang, pg 131]
z First: divide the load into bed load and
suspended load
z Second: separates the load into bed
material load and wash load

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2
 bedload

z “sediment that moves by sliding, rolling, or

saltating (bouncing) on or very near the
bed.”

Leopold
Leopold et
et al
al (1992)
(1992) –– Fluvial
Fluvial Processes
Processes in
in Geomorphology
Geomorphology
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types of suspended load

z suspended load –
z wash load – “sediment load of a stream which
is composed of particles sizes smaller than
those found in appreciable quantities in the
shifting portions of the stream bed” – TOO
SMALL TO DEPOSIT
z suspended load – “particles which are moved
by and suspended in the water column, but
can settle in locations where the travel
velocity is low or settling depth is small.” CAN
DEPOSIT UNDER SOME CONDITIONS.
Garde
Garde and
and Raju
Raju (2000)
(2000) –– Mechanics
Mechanics of
of Sediment
Sediment Transport
Transport and
and Alluvial
Alluvial Stream
Stream Problems.
Problems.
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3
 washload
z generated from caving of streambanks of a tributary
and washes through a reach without appreciable
deposition.

z simplification - these particles pass through the river

system relatively unrelated to the hydraulic condition
in a given reach – the wash load is independent of
the discharge;
discharge; instead, depends on
erosion/availability of fine materials from upstream.

z Einstein recommended that washload include the

particle size for which 10 % of the bed material is
finer. (Einstein H.A. 1950)
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Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group (FISRWG). 8 of 12

(1998).

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 9 of 12
(ASCE, 1997)

Mode of Sediment Transport

WASH LOAD

TOTAL LOAD
SUSPENDED
LOAD

BED LOAD

BED MATERIAL
TOTAL BED MATERIAL LOAD10 of 12

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 11 of 12
(Nalluri & Featherstone, 1995)

Classification of alluvial channels. Schumm’s classification system relates channel

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stability to kind of sediment load and channel type.[Figure 7.10, (FISRWG,1998).