TRANSPORT OF SEDIMENT

• When the average shear stress on the bed of an alluvial channel exceeds
the critical shear, the sediment particles start moving in different ways
depending on the flow condition, sediment size, fluid and sediment
densities, and the channel condition.
• At relatively low shear stresses, the particles roll or slide along the bed. The
particles remain in continuous contact with the bed and the movement is
generally discontinuous. Sediment material transported in this manner is
termed contact load.
• On increasing the shear stress, some sediment particles lose contact with
the bed for some time, and ‘hop’ or ‘bounce’. The sediment particles moving
in this manner fall into the category of saltation load. This mode of transport
is significant only in case of non-cohesive materials of relatively high fall
velocities such as sand in air and, to a lesser extent, gravel in water.
• Since saltation load is significant in case of flow of water and also because
it is difficult to distinguish between saltation load and contact load, the two
are grouped together and termed bed load, which is transported on or near
the bed.
 Modes Of Sediment Movement

0 > c
Rolling Sliding
Contact load

Bed load

Hopping or Bouncing
Saltation load

In suspension

Suspended load
Modes Of Sediment Movement

3
 Transport of sediment

• With further increase in the shear stress, the particles may go in suspension
and remain so due to the turbulent fluctuations. The particles in suspension
move downstream. Such sediment material is included in the suspended
load.
• The material for bed load as well as a part of the suspended load originates
from the bed of the channel and, hence, both are grouped together and
termed bed-material load.
• Wash load: Suspension load originated from the catchment and not from
the bed and side of the channel.

Approximate limiting values of different mode of transport


6 2 Contact load
u*

2  0.6 Saltation load
u*

0.6  Suspended load
u*
Sediment Concentration

5
Sediment Concentration