Monitoring and characterisation of sand-mud sedimentation processes

• DOI: 10.1007/s10236-016-0958-7
• Publication Date: 2016-05-25T03:17:39Z
• Authors: Alan J. S. Cuthbe...; Olugbenga Ibikunle; W. John McCarter; Gerard Starrs
• Keywords: Settling; Sedimentation; Consolidation

Estuaries and tidal inlets are often characterised by the presence of both cohesive non-cohesive sediments. Knowledge sedimentation behaviour sand-mud mixtures is therefore crucial to understanding prediction time-dependent structure (i.e. mixed or segregated), composition erodibility sediment bed deposits developing within these environments. In current study, a series settling column tests conducted investigate hindered initial consolidation phases range sand-clay determine parametric conditions under which segregation occurs. A new, non-invasive, electrical resistivity measurement technique employed capture temporal spatial changes in density, porosity evolving deposits, complimented time-lapsed images process column. The results show that formation segregated (sand-clay) layers with largely controlled fractional relative sand clay concentrations). Specifically, low contents shown form well-defined layer resulting while higher result more transitional patterns no (for very high physical mechanisms different types can be generated illustrated through predictions from an existing polydisperse model. This model indicates degree segregation, time scale over this occurs, correlates well difference predicted characteristics upward displacements associated fractions, respectively. regard, new experimental dataset provides validation for first time), combined data providing insight into processes.