Lecture # 2 Sediment Properties

Slide 4
1. In this chapter we will discuss the properties of individual sediment particle
and group of particles.

2. Mixtures may be composed of different kinds of particles varying in size,

gradation, and specific weight.

Slide 5
A number of terms which are frequently found in the literature are necessary to
discuss here in order to understand this particular lecture.
Slide 6
A sphere is a geometrical object in three-dimensional space that is the surface of a
ball. Like a circle in a two-dimensional space, a sphere is defined mathematically
as the set of points that are all at the same distance r from a given point in a three-
dimensional space.
Slide 9
Tranquil: when flow of water is calm on a mild slope.
The standard fall diameter of a particle is the diameter of a sphere having the same
specific weight and the same standard fall velocity as the given particle
(Interagency Committee, 1957).
Slide 10

Fall velocity or Settling velocity is a primary determinant of sediment behavior in a

fluid. A sediment particle can be transported in suspension only if its settling
velocity is less than the vertical component of hydraulic turbulence. Settling
velocity is also a primary determinant of the percentage and grain size of the
inflowing load that becomes trapped in a reservoir, and the pattern of sediment
distribution along the length of a reservoir.
The fall velocity of sediment particles depends on characteristics such as size,
shape, and density, and also on fluid characteristics such as temperature, salinity,
and sediment concentration which affect both the fluid density and viscosity. To
make comparisons between the basic sedimentation properties of particles, without
differences imposed by the fluid, the standard fall velocity is computed as the
average rate of descent for a particle falling alone in calm distilled water at 24°C.
Slide 13
The viscosity of sand soil depends on the speed of vertical displacements of the
rod. The soil viscosity decreases if the speed increases. The viscosity of sand soil
depends on the rate of lateral squeeze of soil.

The transformation of soil from a plastic state to a viscous liquid state is primarily
caused by a change in the water content of the soil mass. As the water content
increases, the soil mass gradually starts to behave like a viscous liquid. In spite of
viscosity being a key parameter to the initiation of mudflows, there have only been
a few datasets on soil viscosity changes successfully measured continuously as the
soil moves from a plastic state to a viscous liquid state.
Slide 15
The science of sediment transport deals with the interrelationship between flowing
water and sediment particles and therefore understanding of the physical properties
of water and sediment is essential to our study of sediment transport.

Slide 17
The non-cohesive sediments generally consist of larger discrete particles than
cohesive soils which can easily be deposited and eroded by fluid Phenomenon. The
non-cohesive sediment particles react to fluid forces and their movement is
affected by the physical properties of the particles such as size, shape and density.
The particle size and its terminal velocity are the most important parameters in
current use, relating the sediment properties with sediment motion. Here we will
discuss the major properties of the individual particle and the bulk properties of the
sediment.
 In hydraulic engineering the size of sediments, the fall velocity of a single particle
or of a group of particles and the specific weight of a single particle and
characteristics of deposited sediment are of importance. These properties are used
to compute the life of reservoirs, the dimensions of physical models, the evaluation
of the scour depth, the silting of estuaries, etc.

Slide 18
• Among the various sediment properties, size has greatest significance to a
hydraulic engineer, not only because size is important and the most readily
measured sediment property but also because other properties such as shape and
specific gravity tend to vary with particle size. In fact, size has been found to
sufficiently describe the sediment particle for many practical purposes.

• Particle size may be defined by volume, by diameter or by weight of the particle

and can be measured by calipers, by optical methods, by photographic methods,
by sieving or by sedimentation methods. The size of an individual particle is not a
prime importance in river mechanics or sedimentation studies but the size
distribution of the sediment that forms the bed and banks of a stream or reservoir
are of great importance. The size distribution will be discussed in later slides.

Slide 20

Generally, the shape refers to the overall geometric form of a particle regardless of
size and composition. Two particles have the same shape if the ratios of their
intercepts and the angles between the intercepts are the same for both particles.
Particles of very different geometrical shape, but of the same volume and density,
may behave the same in fluids. So, the shape may be defined in terms of dynamic
behaviour.

Slide 21
In sediment analysis one of the most pertinent shape parameters is sphericity. It
was defined by Wadell (1932).

Slide 22
In contrast to the sphericity of a particle, is its roundness, which is defined as the
Ratio of the average of corners and the edges of a particle to the diameter of the
circle inscribed in the maximum projected area of particle. Roundness is thus
geometrically independent of sphericity. Both Sphericity and Roundness are
dimensionless and tend to decrease with decreasing size of particle, but sphericity
depends upon mineral composition a well.
Slide 23
Actually Because of the practical difficulty in the measurement of sphericity, it
may be related to other shape concepts using non-dimensional approach based on
particle intercepts. These intercepts are measured along three mutually
perpendicular axes through the particle: the longest, or a-axis; the intermediate, or
b-axis; and the shortest or c-axis. If sieving has been through, the sieve diameter is
proportional to the b-axis length.

Corey (Schuiz et al, 1954) investigated several shape factors and concluded that
from the view point of simplicity and effective correlation, the following relation
was the most significant expression of the shape

Slide 24
Quartz is the most common rock type encountered in the river. Other common
rock types include basalt, granite, limestone, and magnetite. The specific gravity
of quartz is in the range of 2.6 ∼ 2.7; an average value of 2.65 is most commonly
used.
Slide 25
The density of a sediment particle is a function of its mineral composition usually
as specific gravity. The specific gravity ranges from 2.3 for coal to 7.6 for galena (a
type of mineral). Fortunately, water borne sediments are mainly quartz and
felspathic minerals with a specific gravity of 2.65. For this reason, the specific
gravity of water borne sediments is often assumed to be 2.65.
Specific weight is an important factor extensively used in hydraulics and sediment
transport. For that reason different kinds of specific weights are considered.

Slide 26
Working with distorted movable bed models, light weight porous material may be
needed to represent fine sand or even silt in the proto-type. Four different kinds of
specific weight can be defined for porous material.
A combination of techniques usually is needed to establish multiple lines of
evidence.

Slide 27
When water carries solid material such as fine or clay its specific weight is no
longer equal to the specific weight of clear water. The specific weight of such a
mixture can computed as follows

Slide 30
The last physical property of a single sediment particle is fall velocity. Fall
velocity of the sediment particles, is the primary variable defining the interaction
of sediment transport with the bed, bank or suspended in the fluid. It has been
shown that the bed configuration in a sand channel may change when the fall
velocity of the bed material changes. So, it is important to understand the physical
process that establishes the fall velocity of sediment particles.