Papers Published in the International Journal of Sediment Research Vol. 38, No.2, 2023

Papers Published in the International Journal of Sediment Research

Volume 38, No.2, 2023

Pages 153-301 (April 2023)

1. Developing a Lagrangian sediment transport model for open channel flows
Saman Baharvand, Habib Ahmari, Poorya Taghvaei

3. Forward-modeling of co-evolution of turbidity currents, sediment transport, and cyclic steps in the Rio Muni Basin
Peng Hu, Yue Li, Chenglin Gong, Wei Li

4. Estimation of maximum scour depth around bridge piers under ice-covered conditions using data-driven methods
Hosein Nezaratian, Amin Hassanjabbar, Peng Wu

6. Multi-temporal relations between runoff and sediment load based on variable structure cointegration theory
Honglin Xiao, Jinping Zhang

8. Dry-season sources of riverine sediment from the tropical mixed urban-agricultural watershed of the Mun River Basin in northeastern Thailand
Arika Bridhikitti, Thayukorn Prabamroong, Gaohuan Liu

9. Characteristics of river discharge and its indirect effect on the tidal bore in the Qiantang River, China
Cunhong Pan, Qiushun Wang, Dongzi Pan, Chengfei Hu

1. Developing a Lagrangian sediment transport model for open channel flows
Saman Baharvand, Habib Ahmari, Poorya Taghvaei
Pages 153-165
https:/irtces/www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1001627922000695
https:/irtces/doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2022.09.003
Abstract: A three-dimensional stochastic Lagrangian particle tracking sediment transport model is developed to solve the discrete advection–dispersion equation using a combination of empirical dispersion equations. The performance of three widely-used longitudinal dispersion coefficient equations was examined to select one of them as the primary dispersion equation term in the developed model. Also, a conditional empirical equation was used to consider the effect of vertical dispersion term in top layers near the water surface. The performance of particle tracking model (PTM) to calculate the sediment concentration was evaluated for various sediment classes (very fine sand, fine sand, and medium sand) using available laboratory dataset. Multiple statistical measures were calculated using the Taylor diagram for each dispersion equation. Based on the result, the developed particle tracking model estimated the suspended sediment concentration in a rectangular open channel with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.96, standard deviation (STD) of 0.262, and root mean square deviation (RMSD) of 0.06 for three different sediment classes proving the acceptable accuracy of the developed model for different range of sediment gradations. In addition, the accuracy of PTM was compared to recently developed models. Comparison between the particle tracking model and the analytical solution of the advection–dispersion equation showed that the developed model predicted the maximum concentration of suspended sediment 6% and 9.4% lower than the analytical solution result for 30 and 50 s simulation time in the straight channel, respectively. However, there was a good agreement between the longitudinal and transverse sediment concentration distribution from the model and the analytical solution approach. The result of the sensitivity analysis and validation process showed that the model could be used to simulate sediment transport in open channel flows.
Keywords: Sediment transport, Lagrangian particle tracking, Stochastic approach, Advection–dispersion, Random walk

2. Establishment of a sediment transport capacity equation on loessal slope via experimental investigation
Tian Wang, Jingsi Li, Jingming Hou, Peng Li, Shengdong Cheng, Feng Wang, Wen Wang, Zhanbin Li, Reinhard Hinkelmann
Pages 166-174
https:/irtces/www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1001627922000749
https:/irtces/doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2022.10.001
Abstract: A reliable sediment transport capacity function provides response against challenges of soil erosion prediction on the Loess Plateau of China. The popular sediment transport capacity functions are questionable on loess slopes because the experimental conditions from which they were derived, like bed materials, gentle slopes, and surface roughness, are different from soil erosion processes on the loess slopes. Due to the foregoing uncertainty, a suitable sediment transport capacity function was developed based on a flume experiment investigation. The erodible bed experiment was implemented for five unit width discharges (1.3×10^-4–3.3×10^-4m²/s) and ten slopes (5.2%–57.7%). The selected sediment transport capacity equations were tested in an applicability evaluation. The results of this evaluation found that the Govers (1990) function had the best performance (P.O._0.5-2.0=76%, R²=0.93, RMSE=0.03kg/(m·s)), followed by the Yalin (1963) function (P.O._0.5-2.0=80%, R²=0.81, RMSE=0.05 kg/(m·s)), and finally by the Low (1989) function ( P.O._0.5-2.0=72%, R²=0.79, RMSE=0.04kg/(m·s) ), where P.O._0.5-2.0 is the percentage of estimated values with logarithmic discrepancies with the measured value between 0.5 and 2.0; R²is the coefficient of determination and RMSE is the roof mean squares error. The cohesive sediment incipient motion velocity is introduced into the Govers (1990) function, and the sediment particle parameter is determined from measured experimental data. The developed sediment transport capacity equation has good performance with predicted values corresponding to measured values (P.O._0.5-2.0=98%, R²=0.98, RMSE=0.006kg/(m·s)). The research results provide an improved sediment transport capacity function on the basis of experiments for steep loessal slopes.
Keywords: Experimental investigation, Hydraulic conditions, Loessal slope, Sediment transport capacity

3. Forward-modeling of co-evolution of turbidity currents, sediment transport, and cyclic steps in the Rio Muni Basin
Peng Hu, Yue Li, Chenglin Gong, Wei Li
Pages 175-190
https:/irtces/www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1001627922000725
https:/irtces/doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2022.09.006
Abstract: Previous quantitative studies of field-scale cyclic steps are mostly based on analysis of field data. Such studies have shed light on the erosion/deposition patterns over these morphological features as well as the magnitudes of the turbidity current parameters back estimated using the measured geometry data. However, it remains unclear to what extent such back estimated hydraulic features and erosion/deposition patterns can be numerically reproduced by process-based numerical models. Here, a two-dimensional layer-averaged fully coupled turbidity current model is applied to forward-model co-evolution of turbidity currents, sediment transport, and cyclic steps in the Rio Muni Basin off the West Africa margin, where nine cyclic steps featuring a transition from the upstream erosion to the downstream deposition were identified. Numerical case studies indicate that large and bankfull turbidity currents do not form the erosion-deposition transition because they are likely to fall into the high-speed regime that favors whole-scale erosion. In this regard, threshold values for the current velocity were derived to distinguish high/low-speed regimes of turbidity currents. It is shown that smaller turbidity currents, which do not follow the bankfull assumption, and, thus, fall into the low-speed turbidity current regime, may produce cyclic steps by current deceleration. While values of the derived physical parameters of the smaller turbidity current differ quantitatively from those of previous back estimated values, their qualitative variation trends are basically the same.
Keywords: Cyclic steps, Erosion/deposition patterns, Turbidity currents, Back estimation, Process-based modeling, Bank full flow assumption

4. Estimation of maximum scour depth around bridge piers under ice-covered conditions using data-driven methods
Hosein Nezaratian, Amin Hassanjabbar, Peng Wu
Pages 191-202
https:/irtces/www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1001627922000543
https:/irtces/doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2022.07.008
Abstract: The scouring around bridge foundations is a significant concern in civil engineering. Several research has been conducted experimentally and numerically to study the maximum scour depth around the foundations of a bridge in open channel conditions. In cold regions, where ice forms on lakes, reservoirs, and rivers, the interaction between ice and hydraulic structures is further complicated. The flow distribution varies significantly leading to deeper and larger scouring around bridge foundations. The present study took advantage of the data-driven methods to investigate the impacts of ice conditions to maximum scour depth. In total, 96 datasets were extracted from previous studies. The M5 decision tree, Genetic Expression Programming (GEP), and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) were used in data analysis. The models were developed using the train-and-test approach to avoid over-training. The mentioned developed models were further compared with a previous empirical equation associated with the prediction of maximum scour depth around piers under ice conditions. Finally, a sensitivity analysis method was applied to evaluate the performance of the data-driven models. It was found that the approaching velocity and pier diameter play the most crucial role in determination of the maximum scour depth. The result is generally in agreement with those of previous experimental studies.
Keywords: Ice cover, Bridge foundations, Data-driven method, Maximum scour depth, Sensitivity analysis

5. Multi-objective and multi-scheme research on water and sediment regulation potential of reservoirs in the upper Yellow River
Tao Bai, Jia Yu, Wenting Jin, Jiaquan Wan, Shaojie Gou, Xu Ma, Panpan Ma
Pages 203-215
https:/irtces/www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S100162792200083X
https:/irtces/doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2022.10.004
Abstract: The problems of the deteriorating relation between water and sediment, and the escalating conflict between water supply and demand in the upper Yellow River (YR), need to be addressed. Reservoirs of Longyangxia, Liujiaxia, and Heishanxia (Long–Liu–Hei) in the upper YR are taken as the research object, and a multi-objective, water–sediment optimal operation model for cascade reservoirs Long–Liu–Hei has been developed. This operation model considers the comprehensive requirements of water supply, power generation, flood control, and especially, water and sediment regulation. The improved Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithms (NSGA-II) method is used to demonstrate the water and sediment regulation potential of three scenario schemes under long-term conditions, and the adjustable water allocation of four schemes under typical year conditions are calculated. It is recommended to use the mode of generating hydropower depending on the available water amount as the best operating mode under the conditions of a long time series and for typical years. This recommended operation mode has verified the rationality and accuracy of the reservoir operations model. At the same time, compared with the calculation results for water and sediment regulation after the construction of the Heishanxia, the current research indicates: (1) Under the recommended model, the potential for water and sediment regulation under the long-term series and typical years is once every four years. (2) Inter-basin water transfer greatly improves the cascade power generation. When the adjustable water volume is converted into the controlled volume for water and sediment regulation, the intensity frequency of water and sediment regulation of cascade reservoirs are improved. (3) With the intensification of the contradiction between the supply of and demand for water resources in the upper YR in the future, the amount of transferable water exhibits a decreasing trend, and the regulation of water and sediment in the upper YR is facing huge challenges. (4) Through joint operation with the Longyangxia and Liujiaxia reservoirs (Long–Liu), Heishanxia will play an important role in the regulation and control of power generation, water supply, flood control, and ice prevention in the upper YR. The current research results can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for water and sediment regulation in the YR basin.
Keywords: Water and sediment regulation, Multi-objective regulation, Cascade of reservoirs, Regulatory potential

6. Multi-temporal relations between runoff and sediment load based on variable structure cointegration theory
Honglin Xiao, Jinping Zhang
Pages 216-227
https:/irtces/www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1001627922000683
https:/irtces/doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2022.09.002
Abstract: Microscopic and macroscopic multi-temporal correlations between runoff and sediment load were analyzed to reveal the relations between them in the source region of the Yellow River using the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise method (CEEMDAN) and cointegration theory. Subsequently, multi-temporal models of runoff and sediment load with structural breaks were developed. The results revealed the following points. (1) The runoff and sediment load relations differed at multi-time scales. Multi-temporal cointegration could reveal the relation between runoff and sediment load at micro scales. (2) A comparison of the original model, composite model 1, and composite model 2 revealed that the multi-temporal cointegration model is better than the original model. (3) The variable structure cointegration model of the runoff and sediment load relation had the highest simulation accuracy, and the smallest average relative error for the simulated runoff was 7.82%. Composite model 2 could more accurately reflect the long-term equilibrium and short-term fluctuating relations between the runoff and sediment load in the source region of the Yellow River.
Keywords: Runoff, Sediment load, Variable structure cointegration, Intrinsic mode function, Unit root test

7. Unique landslides (loess slide-flows) induced by an extreme rainstorm in 2018 on the Loess Plateau: A new geological hazard and erosion process
Li Luo, Wen-Zhao Guo, Pei Tian, Yi-li Liu, Shao-KunWang, Jia-Wei Luo
Pages 228-239
https:/irtces/www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1001627922000555
https:/irtces/doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2022.07.009
Abstract: Currently, the vegetation has recovered well in most areas of the Loess Plateau in China, and soil erosion has significantly decreased. However, the heavy rainfall event in July 2018 triggered many instances of a unique type of loess landslides (i.e., slide-flows) on the gully-slopes with vegetation recovery in the Nanxiaohegou Basin on the Loess Plateau. This rainfall event was unusual and was a persistent heavy rainfall. The accumulated rainfall from 24 June to 10 July was 232.2 mm, which comprised 42% of the mean annual rainfall. A loess slide-flow is characterized by combining two movement types of the slide and flow. The loess slide-flows first slide on the gully-slopes and then turn into long run-out earthflows moving downstream, delivering vast amounts of sediment to the river. The average landslide erosion rates were 110.8–134.9 kg/m². These loess slide-flows generally did not occur individually but in groups, which were characterized by large numbers, high density, small scale, and shallow depth. The changes of vegetation characteristics and soil characteristics both had a significant impact on the scale of the landslides. Grass with high coverage had an adverse effect on the occurrence of shallow landslides. The adverse hydrological effects of the plant may offset the weak root reinforcement. Loess slide-flows have become a new geological hazard and erosion process on the Loess Plateau. Loess slide-flows are a prominent ecological and environmental problem after vegetation restoration, and more attention should be paid to loess slide-flows in the future.
Keywords: Loess plateau, Landslide, Soil erosion, Vegetation, Rainfall

8. Dry-season sources of riverine sediment from the tropical mixed urban-agricultural watershed of the Mun River Basin in northeastern Thailand
Arika Bridhikitti, Thayukorn Prabamroong, Gaohuan Liu
Pages 240-252
https:/irtces/www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1001627922000828
https:/irtces/doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2022.10.003
Abstract: Northeastern (NE) Thailand is well recognized as the land for rice cropping and consequently, it is potentially contaminated with chemicals from soil fertilization, pest/weed control, and urban discharges. The Mun River basin in NE Thailand principally is comprised of rice paddies and sedimentation in the river has been pronounced, but the studies on sediment source identification are limited. The current study aims to identify sediment sources in the Mun River basin and discuss possible impacts on ecosystems attributed to exposure to polluted sediment. The assessment relies upon physicochemical properties and heavy metal contents (iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and Zinc (Zn)) in the fine-grained sediment (<63 μm) taken from the Mun River basin and the Chi River in the dry season of 2020–2021. The findings revealed that the heavy metals in the sediment had not accumulated to levels of concern. Most sediment was from natural sources, including Fe- and Mn-rich sediment, Cr-dominant sediment, and Ni- and Cu-rich sediment. Fe- and Zn-rich sediment was, however, found in the urban watershed of Lam Ta Klong, and it could originate from mixed urban sources. Fe-rich sediment was predominant in the Mun River basin, which and could be a significant sink and source of toxic elements from agricultural and urban discharges. It is suggested that the toxic compounds in the sediment should be consistently monitored, whereas ecological and health risk assessment should be focused on the mobile forms.
Keywords: Sediment, Heavy metals, Mun River, Lower Mekong River, Agriculture

9. Characteristics of river discharge and its indirect effect on the tidal bore in the Qiantang River, China
Cunhong Pan, Qiushun Wang, Dongzi Pan, Chengfei Hu
Pages 253-264
https:/irtces/www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1001627922000750
https:/irtces/doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2022.10.002Get rights and content
Abstract: Based on field data of river discharge, tide, tidal bore, and riverbed topography, the characteristics of river discharge, the effect of river discharge on riverbed erosion and sedimentation, and the feedback effect of riverbed erosion and sedimentation on the tide and tidal bore in the Qiantang River are analyzed. The results show that the inter-annual and seasonal variation of river discharge in the Qiantang River is noticeable, while the seasonal distribution of river discharge tends to be uniform after the construction of Xin'anjiang Reservoir. River discharge has a major effect on the erosion and sedimentation in the reach from Zhakou to Yanguan. There are laws of riverbed erosion in wet seasons and years and sedimentation in dry seasons and years. Relations in the Zhakou to Yanguan reach among the riverbed volume after the flood season, the mean and maximum river discharge during the flood season, and riverbed volume before the flood season are established. With the riverbed erosion from Zhakou to Yanguan, the low tide level decreases and the tidal range is amplified, and thus, the tidal bore is enhanced. The relation among tidal range, river discharge, and riverbed volume, as well as the one between the tidal bore height and tidal range is established on the basis of the field data. Furthermore, the variation range of tidal bores after the flood season is analyzed in wet and dry years. The indirect effect of the Xin'anjiang Reservoir on the height of the tidal bore is predicted and the mean height of the tidal bore from Zhakou to Yanguan decreases by 0.1–0.2 m.
Keywords: Qiantang River, Tidal bore, Tide River discharge, Riverbed erosion, Riverbed sedimentation

10. Experimental investigation of the effects of shrub filter strips on debris flow trapping and interception
Songtang He, Wenle Chen, Daojie Wang, Xiaoqing Chen, Yuchao Qi, Peng Zhao, Yong Li, Yongming Lin, Ali Akbar Jamali
Pages 265-278
https:/irtces/www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1001627922000713
https:/irtces/doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2022.09.005
Abstract: Ecological engineering plays an increasingly significant role in mountain hazard control, but the effect of species selection and arrangement (e.g., row spacing and stem spacing) on debris flow suppression is still unclear. To further understand the interception efficiency of shrub arrangement parameters on debris flow and explore the difference with slow hydraulic erosion, sixteen sets of small-scale flume experiments with different stem and row spacings were done to study the effects of shrubs on debris flow severity, flow rate, velocity, and particle size. The results suggest that, for a dilute debris flow, sediment interception effectiveness (27.4%–60.9%) decreases gradually as stem spacing increases. Moreover, as row spacing increases, flow velocity reduction (34.4%–44.9%) and flow reduction (18.5%–47.4%) gradually decrease; and the bulk density reduction (0.5%–5.3%) and sediment interception increase initially and then decrease. In contrast, for a viscous debris flow, the flow reduction, flow velocity reduction, and sedimentation interception decrease gradually as the stem spacing increases. As row spacing increases, the flow velocity reduction, flow reduction, and sediment interception all increase initially and then decrease. A formula for the flow velocity of dilute debris flow after the filter strip was derived based on the energy conservation law and Bernoulli's equation, confirming that debris flow movement is closely related to the degree of vegetation cover. This research strengthens the current understanding of the effectiveness of vegetation in debris flow disaster prevention and control and can guide practical applications.
Keywords: Ecological engineering, Mountain hazards mitigation and prevention, Shrub filter strips, Debris flow, Sediment trapping

11. Geochemical, mineralogical and textural nature of beach placers, north-east Sri Lanka: Implications for provenance and potential resource
Samikshya Mohanty, Madurya Adikaram, Debashish Sengupta, Nishara Madhubashini, Chelaka Wijesiri, Somnath Adak, Biswajit Bera
Pages 279-293
https:/irtces/www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1001627922000701
https:/irtces/doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2022.09.004
Abstract: The Pulmoddai placer sands in Sri Lanka (9°3′23.65″–8°51′38.83″N and 80°55′22.91″–81°3′32.65″E) is considered to be one of the major rare earth element (REE) prospects world-wide. This deposit has a global significance in terms of strategic economic resources and can provide valuable insight for resource estimation and for its economic use. A detailed study of the geochemical, mineralogical, and textural properties of the heavy minerals of this region is undertaken applying the scanning electron microscopy–electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP–OES), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. The results from these analyses are modeled to delineate the source(s) which contribute to the formation of the mineral deposits and their subsequent enrichment. The beach sediment from this region, exhibited elevated concentrations of major elements like silicon (Si) and manganese (Mn) and high abundance of minor and trace elements like yttrium (Y), strontium (Sr), lanthanum (La), barium (Ba), which indicates that the provenance is similar to calcium-silicate rocks. The highest (total) concentration of Y, La, scandium (Sc) and cerium (Ce) are mainly associated to fine grained sediment, signifying that their occurrences are governed by the grain size distribution and ambient hydrodynamic conditions primarily from lagoonal input. Monazite, zircon, ilmenite, rutile, and xenotime are more abundant than garnet in the study area, as is evident from the higher abundance of thorium (Th) and uranium (U) and the enrichment of zirconium (Zr), Ce, vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), and Y. Textural analysis of sediment shows sediment particles are poorly sorted and have more angular grain boundaries, indicating their lower textural maturity. This suggests that the sediment is fluvially derived from a close source rock of charnockite specific to the hinterland lithology. The sediment transported by perennial rivers and the hydrodynamic conditions of the Kokkilai Lagoon estuary, are the two primary sources of heavy mineral enrichment in the study area, which is quite unique in terms of the placer formation. Subsequently, these sediment particles formed the beach placer deposits enriched in REE–Th rich heavy minerals, which are of immense strategic importance.
Keywords: Rare earth elements, Kokkilai lagoon, Geochemistry, Monazite, Beach placer deposit

12. Effective transport width—A methodology to describe the spatial variability of bedload transport
Rolf Rindler, Sabrina Schwarz, Marcel Liedermann, Dorian Shire-Peterlechner, Andrea Kreisler, Johann Aigner, Michael Tritthart, Helmut Habersack
Pages 294-301
https:/irtces/www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1001627922000737
https:/irtces/doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2022.09.007
Abstract: The monitoring of bedload transport processes in rivers is a still challenging task in research and the parameter effective transport width (ETW) allows, for the first time, a process description of the local variability of the bedload transport. In this paper, the distribution of bedload transport over a river cross-section was studied by statistically analyzing long-term monitoring data. Using an innovative integrated measurement system, combining geophones distributed over the river width with bedload traps and basket sampling, allows for continuous, high-resolution, long-term monitoring data of bedload transport characteristics to be generated. Geophone data can be used to record and describe bedload transport processes such as intensity, temporal variability, and local variability. One parameter observed was the ETW, which describes the width where bedload transport is taking place for different discharge classes in gravel bed rivers. With the help of a data series recorded over more than a decade, it is now possible, for the first time, to statistically describe the continuously and directly measured ETW. Hence, it became evident that the effective bedload transport width depends on the discharge rate and local transport capacity, and that bedload transport over the entire river width only occurs at high flows that prevail a few days a year.
Keywords: Bedload transport, Spatial distribution, Effective transport width, Plate geophones