scholarly journals sedFlow – a tool for simulating fractional bedload transport and longitudinal profile evolution in mountain streams

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. U. M. Heimann ◽  
D. Rickenmann ◽  
J. M. Turowski ◽  
J. W. Kirchner
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Size Fraction ◽  
Bedload Transport ◽  
Mountain Streams ◽  
Stream Channels ◽  
Roughness Effects ◽  
Current Application ◽  
Transport Dynamics ◽  
Climate Change Effects ◽  
Simulation Speed

Abstract. Especially in mountainous environments, the prediction of sediment dynamics is important for managing natural hazards, assessing in-stream habitats and understanding geomorphic evolution. We present the new modelling tool {sedFlow} for simulating fractional bedload transport dynamics in mountain streams. sedFlow is a one-dimensional model that aims to realistically reproduce the total transport volumes and overall morphodynamic changes resulting from sediment transport events such as major floods. The model is intended for temporal scales from the individual event (several hours to few days) up to longer-term evolution of stream channels (several years). The envisaged spatial scale covers complete catchments at a spatial discretisation of several tens of metres to a few hundreds of metres. sedFlow can deal with the effects of streambeds that slope uphill in a downstream direction and uses recently proposed and tested approaches for quantifying macro-roughness effects in steep channels. sedFlow offers different options for bedload transport equations, flow-resistance relationships and other elements which can be selected to fit the current application in a particular catchment. Local grain-size distributions are dynamically adjusted according to the transport dynamics of each grain-size fraction. sedFlow features fast calculations and straightforward pre- and postprocessing of simulation data. The high simulation speed allows for simulations of several years, which can be used, e.g., to assess the long-term impact of river engineering works or climate change effects. In combination with the straightforward pre- and postprocessing, the fast calculations facilitate efficient workflows for the simulation of individual flood events, because the modeller gets the immediate results as direct feedback to the selected parameter inputs. The model is provided together with its complete source code free of charge under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) (www.wsl.ch/sedFlow). Examples of the application of sedFlow are given in a companion article by Heimann et al. (2015).

scholarly journals sedFlow – an efficient tool for simulating bedload transport, bed roughness, and longitudinal profile evolution in mountain streams

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 733-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. U. M. Heimann ◽  
D. Rickenmann ◽  
J. M. Turowski ◽  
J. W. Kirchner
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Size Fraction ◽  
Bedload Transport ◽  
Mountain Streams ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Roughness Effects ◽  
Efficient Tool ◽  
Transport Dynamics ◽  
Grain Size Distributions ◽  
Bed Roughness

Abstract. Especially in mountainuous environments, the prediction of sediment dynamics is important for managing natural hazards, assessing in-stream habitats, and understanding geomorphic evolution. We present the new modelling tool sedFlow for simulating fractional bedload transport dynamics in mountain streams. The model can deal with the effects of adverse slopes and uses state of the art approaches for quantifying macro-roughness effects in steep channels. Local grain size distributions are dynamically adjusted according to the transport dynamics of each grain size fraction. The tool sedFlow features fast calculations and straightforward pre- and postprocessing of simulation data. The model is provided together with its complete source code free of charge under the terms of the GNU General Public License (www.wsl.ch/sedFlow). Examples of the application of sedFlow are given in a companion article by Heimann et al. (2014).

scholarly journals Bedload transport measurements with impact plate geophones in two Austrian mountain streams (Fischbach and Ruetz): system calibration, grain size estimation, and environmental signal pick-up

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 669-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Rickenmann ◽  
Bruno Fritschi
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Power Law ◽  
Bedload Transport ◽  
Mountain Streams ◽  
European Alps ◽  
Size Estimation ◽  
Linear Calibration ◽  
Calibration Relation ◽  
Gravel Bed Streams ◽  
Vehicle Movement

Abstract. The Swiss plate geophone system is a bedload surrogate measuring technique that has been installed in more than 20 streams, primarily in the European Alps. Here we report about calibration measurements performed in two mountain streams in Austria. The Fischbach and Ruetz gravel-bed streams are characterized by important runoff and bedload transport during the snowmelt season. A total of 31 (Fischbach) and 21 (Ruetz) direct bedload samples were obtained during a 6-year period. Using the number of geophone impulses and total transported bedload mass for each measurement to derive a calibration function results in a strong linear relation for the Fischbach, whereas there is only a poor linear calibration relation for the Ruetz measurements. Instead, using geophone impulse rates and bedload transport rates indicates that two power law relations best represent the Fischbach data, depending on transport intensity; for lower transport intensities, the same power law relation is also in reasonable agreement with the Ruetz data. These results are compared with data and findings from other field sites and flume studies. We further show that the observed coarsening of the grain size distribution with increasing bedload flux can be qualitatively reproduced from the geophone signal, when using the impulse counts along with amplitude information. Finally, we discuss implausible geophone impulse counts that were recorded during periods with smaller discharges without any bedload transport, and that are likely caused by vehicle movement very near to the measuring sites.

scholarly journals The transport of sediment mixtures examined with a birth-death model for grain-size fractions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn M. Chartrand ◽  
David Jon Furbish
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Grain Size ◽  
Power Density ◽  
Bedload Transport ◽  
Mountain Streams ◽  
Particle Sizes ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Sediment Mixtures ◽  
Light Table ◽  
Birth Death

Abstract. Bedload transport of sediment mixtures in mountain streams is challenging to predict, with implications for understanding how rivers form and respond to environmental change. Experimental work shows that collective particle entrainment is an important contributing mechanism of bedload transport, but questions remain. We use four different time series of experimental sediment flux for granular particles 4–32 mm in diameter to indirectly examine the role of collective mobilization. Flux was measured at a fixed position in space using an imaging light table. The light table provides a flux measurement that is sampled at a resolution of 1 Hz, and for total time durations ranging from 75 to 240 min. Experimental conditions include periods of statistical steady-state, and transient adjustments due to changes of the upstream supply of water and sediment. We find that despite the contrasting experimental conditions, the time series encode a consistent transport behaviour within the Fourier domain: the transport of finer grain size populations has increasing power density for decreasing frequency, whereas the transport of larger grain size populations has a near constant power density across all frequencies. Hence, smaller particle sizes dominate the power spectra. We seek an explanation for this result, and elaborate on a probabilistic birth-death model introduced to the field by Christophe Ancey and colleagues. Analysis using the expanded birth-death model provides two important results. The transport of smaller particles includes collective entrainment terms that represent grain mobilization due to smaller and larger particle sizes colliding with the streambed surface. In contrast, the transport of larger particles includes collective entrainment terms limited to larger particle sizes. The size-dependent collective controls on particle mobilization is an important finding, and we show that it offers a testable explanation for observed flux differences between smaller and larger particle sizes, common to gravel-bed mountain streams. As a result, our work motivates the need to better understand collective entrainment within the context of granular sediment transport along mountain stream beds.

scholarly journals Improving bedload transport determination by grain-size fraction using the Swiss plate geophone recordings at the Erlenbach stream

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 02009
Author(s):  
Dieter Rickenmann ◽  
Nicolas Steeb ◽  
Alexandre Badoux
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Size Fraction ◽  
Signal Amplitude ◽  
Original Method ◽  
Bedload Transport ◽  
Grain Sizes ◽  
Amplitude Histogram ◽  
Measured Characteristic ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
Different Grain Size

Direct bedload samples were taken with a large metal basket at the steep Erlenbach stream in Switzerland. These measurements were compared with the signal of the Swiss impact plate geophone system to derive information about bedload transport. The so-called amplitude histogram (AH) method was developed in an earlier study to estimate the bedload flux for different grain-size classes at the Erlenbach. A new analysis of a larger set of measurements was made here to improve the performance of the AH method. The approach relies on an identification of the transported grain sizes through their dependency on the signal amplitude. As a new element we introduce here the impulse rate, which is found to affect the number of impulses recorded for each amplitude class. As compared to the original method, the new version of the AH method shows a slightly improved performance for total calculated bedload mass, and results in a clearly better agreement between calculated and measured characteristic grain sizes.

scholarly journals Bedload transport measurements with Swiss impact plate geophones in two Austrian mountain streams (Fischbach and Ruetz): system calibration, grain size estimation, and environmental signal pick-up

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Rickenmann ◽  
Bruno Fritschi
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Power Law ◽  
Bedload Transport ◽  
Mountain Streams ◽  
European Alps ◽  
Size Estimation ◽  
Linear Calibration ◽  
Calibration Relation ◽  
Gravel Bed Streams ◽  
Vehicle Movement

Abstract. The Swiss plate geophone system is a bedload surrogate measuring technique that has been installed in more than 20 streams, primarily in the European Alps. Here we report about calibration measurements performed in two mountain streams in Austria. The Fischbach and Ruetz gravel–bed streams are characterized by important runoff and bedload transport during the snowmelt season. A total of 31 (Fischbach) and 21 (Ruetz) direct bedload samples were obtained during a six year period. Using the number of geophone impulses and total transported bedload mass for each measurement to derive a calibration function, results in a strong linear relation for the Fischbach, whereas there is only a poor linear calibration relation for the Ruetz measurements. Instead, using geophone impulse rates and bedload transport rates indicates that two power law relations best represent the Fischbach data, depending on transport intensity; for lower transport intensities, the same power law relation is also in reasonable agreement with the Ruetz data. These results are compared with data and findings from other field sites and flume studies. We further show that the observed coarsening of the grain size distribution with increasing bedload flux can be qualitatively reproduced from the geophone signal, when using the impulse counts along with amplitude information. Finally, we discuss implausible geophone impulse counts that were recorded during periods with smaller discharges without any bedload transport, and that are likely caused by vehicle movement very near to the measuring sites.

scholarly journals Recalculation of bedload transport observations in Swiss mountain rivers using the model sedFlow

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 773-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. U. M. Heimann ◽  
D. Rickenmann ◽  
M. Böckli ◽  
A. Badoux ◽  
J. M. Turowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Study ◽  
Bedload Transport ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Mountain Streams ◽  
Good Representation ◽  
Mountain Rivers ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Transport Dynamics ◽  
Routing Schemes

Abstract. Only few validated numeric models are available for the simulation of bedload transport dynamics in mountain streams. In this study, the recently developed modelling tool sedFlow has been applied to simulate bedload transport in two Swiss mountain streams. It is shown that sedFlow can be used to successfully reproduce observations from historic bedload transport events with reasonable parameter set-ups. The simulation results shed light on the difficulties that arise with traditional flow resistance estimation methods when macro-roughness is present. In addition, our results demonstrate that greatly simplified hydraulic routing schemes, such as kinematic wave or uniform discharge approaches, are probably sufficient for a good representation of bedload transport processes in steep mountain streams. The influence of different parameters is qualitatively evaluated in a simple sensitivity study. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the usefulness of sedFlow for a range of practical applications in alpine mountain streams.

Measuring Bed Load Transport Rates by Grain-Size Fraction Using the Swiss Plate Geophone Signal at the Erlenbach

2016 ◽  
Vol 142 (5) ◽  
pp. 04016003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos R. Wyss ◽  
Dieter Rickenmann ◽  
Bruno Fritschi ◽  
Jens M. Turowski ◽  
Volker Weitbrecht ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Size Fraction ◽  
Bed Load ◽  
Load Transport ◽  
Bed Load Transport

Controlled experiments and finite element simulations with the Swiss plate geophone bedload monitoring system: particle size identification and transport mode

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Chen ◽  
Siming He ◽  
Tobias Nicollier ◽  
Lorenz Ammann ◽  
Alexandre Badoux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Grain Size ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Quantitative Agreement ◽  
Bedload Transport ◽  
Material Structure ◽  
Flume Experiments ◽  
Fem Simulations ◽  
Transport Mode ◽  
Signal Response

<p>The Swiss plate geophone (SPG) system is an indirect bedload transport monitoring device that records the acoustic signals generated by bedload particle impacts, with the goal to derive the bedload flux and grain size distribution. Particle drop experiments with quartz spheres in quiescent water in a flume setting were performed to investigate the dynamic signal response of the SPG system impacted by particle-like objects varying in size and impact location. Systematic flume experiments with natural bedload particles in flowing water were conducted to study the effects of impact angle and transport mode (saltating, rolling and sliding) on the SPG signals. For each impact caused by a single particle, the number of signal impulses, the amplitude, the positive area surrounded by the signal envelope, and the centroid frequency were extracted from the raw geophone monitoring data. The finite element method (FEM) was used to construct a virtual model of the SPG system and to determine the propagation characteristics of the numerical stress wave in the material structure. The experimental and numerical results showed a qualitative and partially quantitative agreement in the changes of the signal impulses, the amplitude, and the envelope area with increasing colliding sphere size. The centroid frequencies of the SPG vibrations showed qualitatively similar dependencies with increasing particle size as some field measurements for the coarser part of the investigated range of impact sizes. The effects of variable particle impact velocities and impact locations on the geophone plate were also investigated by drop experiments and compared to FEM simulations. In addition, the signal response for different bedload transport modes and varying impact angles were explored. In summary, the FEM simulations contribute to the understanding of the signal response of the SPG system and the findings in this study may eventually result in improving the bedload grain size classification and transport mode recognition.</p>

Development of Model for Acoustic Noise Generated from Bedload in Rivers 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Nasr ◽  
Thomas Geay ◽  
Sébastien Zanker ◽  
Recking Alain
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Impact Velocity ◽  
Acoustic Noise ◽  
Acoustic Power ◽  
Bedload Transport ◽  
Empirical Formulas ◽  
Impact Rate ◽  
Flux Measurements ◽  
The Impact

<p>Quantifying bedload transport is important for many applications such as river management and hydraulic structures protection. Bedload flux measurements can be achieved using physical sampler methods. However, these methods are expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to operate during high discharge events. Besides, these methods do not permit to capture the spatial and temporal variability of bedload transport flux. Recently, alternative measuring technologies have been developed to continuously monitor bedload flux and grain size distribution using passive or active sensors. Among them, the hydrophone was used to monitor bedload transport by recording the sounds generated by bedload particles colliding on the river bed (referred as self-generated noise SGN). The acoustic power of SGN was correlated with bedload flux in field experiments. To better understand these experimental results and to estimate measurement uncertainties, we developed a theoretical model to simulate the SGN. The model computes an estimation of the power spectral density (PSD)by considering the contribution of all signals generated by impacts between bedload particles and the riverbed, and accounting for the attenuation of the acoustic signal between the source and the hydrophone position due to river propagation effects,. In this model, we</p><p>The energy of acoustic noise generated from the collision between two particles is mainly dependent on the transported particles' diameter and the impact velocity. We tested different empirical formulas for the estimation of the number of impact (impact rate) and the impact velocity depending on particle size and hydraulic conditions. To characterize the acoustic power losses as a function of distance and frequency, we used an attenuation function which was experimentally calibrated for different French rivers.</p><p>We tested the model on a field dataset comprising acoustic and bedload flux measurements. The results indicate that the PSD model allows estimating acoustic power (in between a range of one order of magnitude) for most of the rivers considered.  The model sensitivity was evaluated. In particular, we observed that it is very sensitive to the empirical formulas used to determine the impact rate and impact speed. In addition, special attention should be kept in mind on the assumption of the grain size distribution of riverbed which can generate large variability in some rivers particularly in rivers with a significant sand fraction.</p>

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